Seed nutrients and bioactive compounds of underutilised oil crop Carthamus tinctorius L.

Seeds of seven different genotypes underutilised oil crop Carthamus tinctorius L. (Asteraceae) from alternative species collection the Institute Field and Vegetable Crops (Novi Sad, Serbia), were analysed for their protein, oil, fatty acids, tocopherols total phenolics contents, with a view to test diversity potential as an source these valuable compounds. tested safflower had protein (determined by Kjeldahl method) content 11.5 16.0%, while Soxhlet ranged 16.8 24.5% dry matter, on average. Two main unsaturated acids in seeds, oleic linoleic represent approximately 90% acid gas chromatography). Linoleic was dominant all (61.2-80.2% oil), negative correlation linolenic 9.6 29.5% oil. The amount saturated 5.5 6.05% palmitic, 2.1 3.5% stearic acid. Safflower seed is a-tocopherol high performance liquid chromatography method fluorescence detection) its 358.8 461.8 mg/L spectrophotometrically) 4.0 6.0 mg gallic equivalents/g weight. This comprehensive screening chemical compounds seeds shows importance this good important nutrients bioactive constituents.