Borage oil is derived from the seeds of the borage plant (Borago officinalis), a member of the Boraginaceae family. Borage oil, also known as starflower oil and borage seed oil, is a rich source of the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). The possible health benefits of borage oil are attributed to GLA. GLA is an unusual constituent of living matter and is found in very few plants. These include, in addition to borage, evening primrose, blackcurrant and hemp. The amount of GLA in borage oil, as the percentage of total fatty acid content, ranges from about 20% to 27%. Typical borage oil supplements contain approximately 24% GLA.
