The oil obtained by milling the seeds of Helianthus annuus L., Compositae. Classified as a semidrying oil. Alternately classified as an oleic-linoleic acid oil. Produced on a large scale in U.S.S.R., the Baltic region, India, Egypt, Canada, Argentina. Composition: palmitic acid 6.4%, stearic acid 1.3%, arachidic acid 4.0%, behenic acid 0.8%, oleic acid 21.3%, linoleic acid 66.2% (the glycerides in sunflower oil consist mainly of mixed triglycerides, each contg one or two linoleic acid radicals), linolenic acid <0.1%. Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) 75 mg/100 g. This approaches the tocopherol content of wheat germ oil which is 103 mg/100 g. Reviews: E. W. Eckey, Vegetable Fats and Oils (Reinhold, New York, 1954) pp 772-777; L. H. Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture vol. II (Macmillan, New York, 1953) pp 1445-1449.