ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the accumulation process of main fatty acids in Eucommia ulmoides seeds. METHODS: Gas chromatography was used to determine the change of the fatty acid composition in Huazhong No.6 Eucommia ulmoides seeds in the process of development. RESULTS: The fatty acids in Eucommia ulmoides seeds were mainly composed of palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and α-linolenic acid, among which α-linolenic acid had the highest content followed by oleic acid, and stearic acid had the lowest one. CONCLUSION: During seed development, the contents of palmitic acid and oleic acid are higher in the early period of grain development, but gradually drop with the maturation of the grains. The content of stearic acid also declines with the gradual maturation of the grain. On the contrary, the contents of α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid keep rising as the grains mature.