Total lipid content and fatty acid composition of the seeds of some Vicia L. species

The seed oils of eight Vicia species (Leguminosae) were investigated for their total lipid contents and fatty acid compositions. The seed lipid contents were found to be between 2.30 and 3.91%. The fatty acid compositions of these eight different species were determined by gas chromatography of the methyl esters of their fatty acids. The seed oils of Vicia species contain palmitic and stearic acids as the major component fatty acids, among the saturated acids, with a small amounts of myristic, pentadecanoic, arachidic and behenic acids. The major unsaturated fatty acids found in the seed oils were oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids.