Extraction and Determination of Omega- 3 from Hypericum scabrum Seed.

Fatty acids are naturally found in vegetables and fruits and may be formed during processes like fermentation or may be added into food during the manufacturing process. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. They are necessary for human health but the body can not make them. Omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. They have also become popular because they may reduce the risk of heart disease. The genus Hypericum (Guttiferae) is composed of shrubs or herbs usually with translucent glands containing essential oils and sometimes red or black glands containing hypericine [1]. Hypericum species are medicinal plants known as healing herbs. The whole plant extract has antidepressive effects on neurotransmitter levels in the brain [2]. The antidepressive [3], anticarcinogenic [4] and antimicrobial [5] activities of these plants are currently under investigation. In this work, dried and powdered plants were extracted with n- hexane using a Soxhlet apparatus (70ºC, 3 h) to obtain the fatty acids and the other apolar components. The extracts were concentrated by rotary evaporator under vacuum at 40ºC then the oily mixtures were derived to their methyl esters. The chemical compositions of the fatty acid methyl esters were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The major components were alpha- linolenic (omega-3) (41.6%), linoleic (32.5%) and oleic (16.5%).