The fatty acid composition of the moss species Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P.
Beauv. (Polytrichaceae) and Hypnum andoi A.J.E. Sm. (Hypnaceae) collected in
winter time were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as a contribution to their
chemistry. Eight fatty acids were identified in the chloroform/methanol
extract 1:1 of A. undulatum (linoleic acid 26.80%, palmitic acid 22.17%,
?-linolenic acid 20.50%, oleic acid 18.49%, arachidonic acid 6.21%, stearic
acid 3.34%, cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid 1.52% and behenic acid
1.01%), while six fatty acids were found in the same type of extract of H.
andoi (palmitic acid 63.48%, erucic acid 12.38%, stearic acid 8.08%, behenic
acid 6.26%, lignoceric acid 5.16% and arachidic acid 4.64%). According to
this study, the moss A. undulatum can be considered as a good source of both
essential fatty acids for humans (linoleic acid and ?-linolenic acid) during
the winter.