Chemical Composition and Lipid Components of the Aerial Parts of Eryngium campestre L.

Eryngium campestre L. is a medicinal species of the Apiaceae family whose chemical composition and lipid constituents have not been comprehensively characterized in its aerial parts. The present study provides a preliminary characterization of the chemical composition of the aerial parts and lipid composition of glyceride oil obtained from this plant material. The aerial parts contain 9.05% protein, 72.91% carbohydrates, 6.61% ash, and 8.23% moisture, and have an energy value of 357 kcal/100 g. The essential oil yield is low (0.0275%, v/w, fresh weight), dominated by heptadeca-1,9-diene-4,6-diyne-3-ol (74.51%). The glyceride oil content is 3.20% and it contains 37.12% unsaponifiable matter, 4.55% sterols, 2.29% phospholipids, and 1033 mg/kg tocopherols. Unsaturated fatty acids predominate, with polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly linoleic (30.3%) and α-linolenic acid (8.9%), accounting for 46.3%. Stigmasterol (52.2%) and β-sitosterol (38.4%) are the predominant sterols, while α-tocopherol (86%) is the major tocopherol. Phosphatidylcholine (42.1%) and phosphatidic acids (17.3%) are the main phospholipid classes. These findings provide a biochemical basis for future investigation of the chemical composition and bioactive lipid constituents of E. campestre.