Fatty acid profiles of seeds from different Ribes species

Fatty acid composition of different cultivars of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.), redcurrant (Ribes rubrum L.), gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa L.) and jostaberry (Ribes nidrigolaria Bauer) was studied. These seeds contained from 17.8% to 22.4% of oil. The major fatty acid (FA) determined in these Ribes species was linoleic acid and significant differences were determined between the seeds of these Ribes species for all fatty acids analysed, except for stearic acid. Jostaberries had the lowest n-6/n-3 ratio, Index of Atherogenicity, Index of Thrombogenicity and the highest α-linolenic and stearidonic acid contents. Blackcurrants had the highest γ-linolenic acid content, followed by gooseberries. With their favourable FA composition, seeds of these Ribes species represent an interesting new source of essential FA that can be used as a supplement in everyday nutrition.