Evening primrose seeds

Oilseeds produced by plants of the genus Oenothera, used in the food industry as the source of evening primrose oil. The seeds are valued for their γ-linolenic acid content, and the extracted oil is sold mainly as a dietary supplement. The tiny seeds yield only 15–25% oil, making production costly and quality-sensitive; supercritical CO₂ extraction offers a solvent-free alternative to hexane. Seed breeding focuses on raising GLA content and yield, while storage must protect the polyunsaturated oil from oxidation before pressing.