Chemical Characterization of Oils and Meals from Wild Sunflower (Helianthus petiolaris Nutt)

Abstract

Chemical characterizations of oils and meals from the wild sunflower species Helianthus petiolaris Nutt and their comparison with those from cultivated sunflower (H. annuus) were performed. Seeds from indigenous populations of H. petiolaris were harvested in Argentina in different years. The analytical parameters studied were as follows: (i) FA profile, PV, p-anisidine value, oxidative stability, phosphorus and phospho-lipid content, tocopherols, polar compounds, and waxes in the extracted oils; and (ii) moisture, ash, crude fiber, metals, sugars, urease activity, starch, protein, available lysine, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin, gross energy, and amino acid content in the residual meals. The products from wild sunflower seed, which yielded 27-30% oil by solvent extraction, showed some characteristics similar to the commercial products. Nevertheless, the oil had lower quality and stability owing to the high unsaturation levels and lower concentrations of antioxidant components, and the meal had a lower protein content. The phospholipid content was significantly lower than in industrial crude sunflower oils. Most of the important parameters in the meal such as available lysine, gross energy, and digestibility compared favorably with those for cultivated sunflower meals. The results showed the potential for using these meals for animal feed.