Fatty acid composition, diosgenin and trigonelline contents of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum): effects of phosphorus fertilizer

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of phosphorus fertilizer treatments (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha⁻¹ P₂O₅) on crude oil, diosgenin, and trigonelline contents and on fatty acid composition of fenugreek plants. Experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with four replications. Results revealed under different phosphorus fertilizer doses that crude oil content varied between 4.75 and 5.54%, diosgenin content varied between 0.43 and 0.52% and trigonelline content varied between 0.74 and 0.97%. The highest diosgenin and trigonelline contents were obtained under the 30 kg ha⁻¹ P₂O₅ treatment and the highest crude oil content was observed under the 60 kg ha⁻¹ P₂O₅ treatment. With regard to fatty acid composition, C_18:2, C_18:3, C_16:0, C_18:0, C_18:1 and C_20:0 were identified as the major components and C_14:0, C_16:1, C_17:0, C_17:1, C_20:1 and C_22:0 were identified as the minor ones. Linoleic acid (C_18:2) content varied between 42.78 and 43.44% and linolenic acid (C_18:3) content varied between 26.77 and 29.21%. Except for linolenic acid (C_18:3), the highest contents of all the other major components were observed with the 90 kg ha⁻¹ P₂O₅ treatment.

Keywords:

• Fenugreek
• diosgenin
• trigonelline
• crude oil content
• fatty acid composition
• Trigonella foenum-graecum

Acknowledgements

This study was produced from the material of the master thesis of Erman Beyzi. Authors wish to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa KIRALAN for his supports provided in fatty acid composition analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.