Biochemical profiling of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) petals

Abstract

Safflower, a multipurpose crop, has been grown for centuries in India for the orange-red dye (carthamin) extracted from its colored flowers and for its quality oil. The seed oil of this oilseed crop is enriched in linoleic acid is grown mainly in Rabi season under receding soil moisture conditions. Safflower petals are rich source of antioxidants due to presence of several bioactive compounds. Petal decoction is a popular drink due to presence of antioxidants and essential fatty acid. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the oil content and fatty acid profile of safflower petals. Safflower petals (20 g) were extracted using soxhlet extraction apparatus with hexane as solvent. The crude extract was analyzed by TLC and small amount of material was converted to fatty acid methyl esters using 2% 3 rd International Conference on “Global Initiative in Agricultural, Forestry and Applied Sciences for Food Security, Environmental Safety and Sustainable Development (GIAFAS-2021)” 349 October 17-18, 2021 ISBN 978-93-5419-016-2 sulphuric acid in methanol reagent. The analysis of methyl esters was carried out using Gas Chromatograph Agilent 6890 series equipped with flame ionization detector. TLC analysis showed that safflower petal extract does not contain triglycerides. Palmitic (20.2%), oleic (11.1%), linoleic (10%) and linolenic (9.2 %) acids were the predominant fatty acids in the hexane extract. 26.7% of non-fatty acid components were present in the hexane extract. Based on GC-MS analysis, it was found that they were hydrocarbons. Results suggest that safflower petals do not contain oil. Petal extract is rich in essential fatty acid.