Preliminary Study on Nutritional Value and Biologically Active Components of Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria L.)

The aim of the current study is to determine the nutritional value and the content of the biologically active components in kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria L.). It is established that the dry biomass contains substantial amounts of proteins and carbohydrates, primarily dietary fiber, while the total oil content is relatively low (below 3.0%). The isolated glyceride oil represents the complete lipid fraction derived from all plant parts (leaves, stems, and flowers). The glyceride oil of A. vulneraria is notable for its high levels of biologically active constituents, particularly sterols, tocopherols, and phospholipids. Palmitic (30.3%) and oleic (11.5%) acids dominate the fatty acid profile; β-sitosterol, α-tocotrienol, and α-tocopherol are the major sterol and tocopherol components, respectively. On the other hand, phosphatidylinositol, together with phosphatidic acids, prevails within the phospholipid fraction. Based on the obtained fatty acid composition, several important ratios were calculated—unsaturated fatty acids (UFA)/saturated fatty acids (SFA), saturated fatty acids/monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)/saturated fatty acids, and n-6/n-3, providing an integrated assessment of the lipid quality. The PUFA/SFA value (0.24) suggests relatively high oxidative stability. In contrast, the n-6/n-3 ratio (0.86) shows a balanced distribution of essential fatty acids, which is associated with favorable nutritional properties.