Chemical survey and erucic acid content of commercial varieties of nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus L.

Nasturtium ( Tropaeolum majus L.) oil contains the highest levels of erucic acid of known seed oils (75–80%). A significant portion of the acid is attached to the 2‐position of the glycerol, and trierucin is a major component ( ca. 50%) of the oil. Seeds from eleven varieties of commercially available garden nasturtium ( T. majus ) were screened for oil content, erucic acid levels and fatty acid distribution. Oil contents ranged from ca. 6 to 11%, and erucic acid levels in the oils ranged from 62 to 80%. One sample of T. speciosum was also analyzed, and contained 28% oil, fatty acids from C 16 to C 28 and triglycerides up to C 72 .