Abstract
The fatty acid, tocopherol and sterol contents of the oils of several poppy seeds were investigated. The main fatty acids in poppy seed oils were linoleic (687.6-739.2 g kg(-1)), oleic (141.3-192.8 g kg(-1)) and palmitic (76.8-92.8 g kg(-1)). The oils contained an appreciable amount of gamma-tocopherol (195.37-280.85 mg kg(-1)), with a mean value of 261.31 mg kg(-1) and alpha(x-tocopherol (21.99-45.83 mg kg(-1)), with a mean value of 33.03 mg kg(-1). The concentrations of total sterol ranged from 1099.84 mg kg(-1) (K. pembe) to 4816.10 mg kg(-1) (2. sinif beyaz), with a mean value of 2916.20 mg kg(-1). The major sterols were beta-sitosterol, ranging from 663.91 to 3244.39 mg kg(-1); campesterol, ranging from 228.59 to 736.50 mg kg(-1); and Delta(5)-avenasterol, ranging from 103.90 to 425.02 mg kg(-1). The studied varieties of poppy seeds from Turkey were found to be a potential source of valuable oil.