FATTY ACIDS DETERMINATION FROM OIL SEES OF OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA L. (MILLER)

Some proposals for the complete use of the prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Miller) has induced the AA. to evaluate by GC the fatty acids from the oil seeds of the main varieties. According to the results, the seeds of the White, Yellow and Red varieties are suitable for the production of alimentary oil; even though, owing to a few composition differences, the white and red fruits are preferable to the yellow ones. The oil From the seeds of the Yellow variety results altogether less rich in linoleic acid oleic acids, while it presents a higher concentration of linolenic, palmitic, acid myristic acids.