Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) seed oil: Characterization of fatty acids, bioactive lipids and radical scavenging potential

Lipid classes, fatty acids, phytosterols and tocopherols composition of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) seed oil were determined. A. majus seeds are a good source of oil (12.3\%). The amounts of neutral lipids in the oil were the highest, followed by glycolipids and phospholipids. Linoleic and oleic accounted for 88\% of the total fatty acids. Snapdragon seed oil is characterized by a relatively high amount of phytosterols, wherein the sterol marker was beta-sitosterol. All tocopherol isomers were present, wherein gamma-tocopherol constituted 81\% of the total tocopherol content followed be beta-tocopherol (ca. 14.3\%). The radical scavenging activity (RSA) toward 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and galvinoxyl radicals of A. majus oil were higher than those of extra virgin olive oil. The diverse potential uses of A. majus oil may make this plant into significant industrial importance. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.