Oenothera biennis Linolenic acid

Mulherjee, K. D. and I. Kiewitt. 1987. Formation of gamma linolenic acid in the higher plant evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.). J. Agric. Food Chem. 35 1009-1012. 

The seeds of Oenothera biennis (evening primrose, fever plant, king s cure-all, night willow herb, scabish, sundrop, tree primrose) yield evening primrose oil, which contains gamma-linolenic acid and has been used in various disorders, such as atopic eczema, premenstrual syndrome, and benign breast pain, but is probably not efficacious (1,2). 

Oil obtained from Oenothera biennis or O. lamar-kiana is designated as evening primrose oil. Interest in this oil has developed in recent years because of its content of y-linolenic acid (18 3 A6,9,12). It is claimed that the dietary intake of this highly unsaturated oil is beneficial in combatting certain diseases, e.g. multiple sclerosis (Lovell etaL, 1981 Horrobin, 1982 Tudge, 1981). The seeds are grown in the United States of America, Europe, Israel and New Zealand. Between 100 and 150 tonnes of oil is probably produced per annum (1984). Oil content of seed is 22-28%. Alternative sources of y-linolenic acid have been reviewed (Wolf et al., 1983). 

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