GC/MS Analyzes of Fatty Acid Composition of Astrodaucus orientalis L.

The genus Astrodaucus is represented in Iran by two species: A. persicus (Boiss.) Drude and A. orientalis L., which grown wild in different region of Iran [1]. This study describes work aimed at the rapid evaluation of the fatty acid composition of Astrodaucus orientalis, particularly the aerial part of plant, were investigated. Dried and powdered plants were extracted with n- hexane using a Soxhlet apparatus (70ºC, 3 h) to obtain the fatty acids and the other apolar components. The extracts were concentrated by rotary evaporator under vacuum at 40ºC then the oily mixtures were derived to their methyl esters [2]. The methyl ester produces were analyzed by GC and GC/MS methods, after concentrate. Two sesquiterpene compounds and four important fatty acids of oil were detected. The unsaturated fatty acid contents (92.2%) were higher than saturated ones (6.5%). Among them, 6- octadecenoic acid (76.1%), 9, 12- octadecadienoic acid (16.1%) and palmitic acid (5.4%) were the main constituents (Table 1).