Lipid composition of murraya koenigii seed

Total seed lipids extracted fromMurraya koenigii (Linn), Rutaceae amounted to 4.4% of the dry seed. The total lipids consisted of 85.4% neutral lipids, 5.1% glycolipids and 9.5% phospholipids. Neutral lipids consisted of 73.9% triacylglycerols, 10.2% free fatty acids and small amounts of diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols and sterols. At least five glycolipids and seven phospholipids were identified. Sterylglucoside and acylated sterylglucoside were major glycolipids, while digalactosyldiacylglycerol, monogalac-tosyldiacylglycerol and monogalactosylmonoacylglycerol were present in small quantities. The phospholipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine as major phospholipids and minor quantities of phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. The fatty acid composition of these different neutral lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids were determined.     

FA and unsaponifiable composition of five Amazonian palm kernel oils

The kernel oils of five different palm species native to the Amazon basin and French Guyana were studied. Those studied were Acrocomia lasiospatha Wall., Astrocaryum vulgare C. Mart., Bactris gasipaes H.B.K., Elaeis oleifera (Kunth) Cortés, and Maximiliana maripa Drude. Lauric and myristic acids were found in all of the oils. Analysis of the unsaponifiable contents, especially the sterol and triterpene alcohol determinations, revealed the preponderance of sitosterol and the presence of two triterpene alcohols (cycloartenol and 24-methylenecycloartanol). Antioxidant (vitamin E) levels were present in small amounts, with the levels being more similar to olive than to palm oil.     

Fat of the Gut: Epithelial Phospholipids in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) comprise a distinct set of clinical symptoms resulting from chronic inflammation within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Despite the significant progress in understanding the etiology and development of treatment strategies, IBD remain incurable for thousands of patients. Metabolic deregulation is indicative of IBD, including substantial shifts in lipid metabolism. Recent data showed that changes in some phospholipids are very common in IBD patients. For instance, phosphatidylcholine (PC)/phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)/PC ratios are associated with the severity of the inflammatory process. Composition of phospholipids also changes upon IBD towards an increase in arachidonic acid and a decrease in linoleic and a-linolenic acid levels. Moreover, an increase in certain phospholipid metabolites, such as lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingosine-1-phosphate and ceramide, can result in enhanced intestinal inflammation, malignancy, apoptosis or necroptosis. Because some phospholipids are associated with pathogenesis of IBD, they may provide a basis for new strategies to treat IBD. Current attempts are aimed at controlling phospholipid and fatty acid levels through the diet or via pharmacological manipulation of lipid metabolism.     

Lipid composition ofHerrania andTheobroma seeds

The seeds of nineHerrania and nineTheobroma species were surveyed for fatty acid, sterol, tocopherol and tocotrienol compositions. Principal component and cluster analyses suggested that these analytes could be used collectively as chemotaxonomic criteria to differentiate theHerrania species from theTheobroma species, as well as to provide subgroup distinctions within each genus for comparison to the existing classification schemes.     

Lipid composition of perilla seed

The composition of lipids and oil characteristics from perilla [Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt.] seed cultivars are reported. Total lipid contents of the five perilla seed cultivars ranged from 38.6 to 47.8% on a dry weight basis. The lipids consisted of 91.2–93.9% neutral lipids, 3.9–5.8% glycolipids and 2.0–3.0% phospholipids. Neutral lipids consisted mostly of triacylglycerols (88.1–91.0%) and small amounts of sterol esters, hydrocarbons, free fatty acids, free sterols and partial glycerides. Among the glycolipids, esterified sterylglycoside (48.9–53.2%) and sterylglycoside (22.1–25.4%) were the most abundant, while monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and digalactosyldiacylglycerol were present as minor components. Of the phospholipids, phosphatidylethanolamine (50.4–57.1%) and phosphatidylcholines (17.6–20.6%) were the major components, and phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol were present in small quantities. The major fatty acids of the perilla oil were linolenic (61.1–64.0%), linoleic (14.3–17.0%) and oleic acids (13.2–14.9%). Some of the physicochemical characteristics and the tocopherol composition of perilla oil were determined.     

A kinetic study of phospholipid extraction by degumming process in sunflower seed oil

During the refining process of vegetable oils (degumming), phospholipids are eliminated by thermal treatment with water (hydratable phospholipids, HP) and other degumming agents such as phosphoric acid, citric acid, or acid mixtures (nonhydratable phospholipids, NHP). Samples of pressed crude sunflower oils were degummed with water and acids, and the corresponding pellets (gums) and supernatant oils were obtained by centrifugation. During the water degumming process, a decrease of more than 98% in the phosphatidylcholine (PC) content was achieved in 5 min; phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was the most difficult compound to be removed. Phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid, and phosphatidylinositol (PI) presented an intermediate behavior. The optimal contact time for quantitative extraction of the most important HP (PC, PI, and PE) in crude sunflower oils was 35 min. For acid treatments, a rapid elimination of the residual levels of PC was registered (5 min); the optimal contact times for the quantitative removal of the NHP were 35 min for phosphoric acid und acid mixture, and 25 min for citric acid. Taking into account that PE was the most difficult component to be removed, its level could be used as a monitor to evaluate the efficiency of the degumming process.     

Process optimization for biodiesel production from Jatropha, Karanja and Polanga oils

Petroleum sourced fuels is now widely known as non-renewable due to fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation. Renewable, carbon neutral, transport fuels are necessary for environmental and economic sustainability. Biodiesel derived from oil crops is a potential renewable and carbon neutral alternative to petroleum fuels. Chemically, biodiesel is monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable feed stock like vegetable oils and animal fats. It is produced by transesterification in which, oil or fat is reacted with a monohydric alcohol in presence of a catalyst. The process of transesterification is affected by the mode of reaction condition, molar ratio of alcohol to oil, type of alcohol, type and amount of catalysts, reaction time and temperature and purity of reactants. In the present paper various methods of preparation of biodiesel from non-edible filtered Jatropha (Jatropha curcas), Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) and Polanga (Calophyllum inophyllum) oil have been described. Mono esters (biodiesel) produced and blended with diesel were evaluated. The technical tools and processes for monitoring the transesterification reactions like TLC, GC and HPLC have also been used.     

Phospholipid fatty acid composition and stereospecific distribution of soybeans with a wide range of fatty acid composition

Phospholipid (PL) fatty acid composition and stereospecific distribution of 25 genetically modified soybean lines with a wide range of compositions were determined by gas chromatography and phospholipase A₂ hydrolysis. Pl contained an average of 55.3% phosphatidylcholine, 26.3% phosphatidylethanolamine, and 18.4% phosphatidylinositol. PL class proportions were affected by changes in overall fatty acid composition. PL fatty acid composition changed with oil fatty acid modification, especially for palmitate, stearate, and linolenate. Stereospecific analysis showed that saturated fatty acids were primarily located at the sn-1 position of all PL, and changes of the saturates in PL were largely reflected on this position. Oleate was distributed relatively equally between the sn-1 and sn-2 positions. Linoleate was much more concentrated on sn-2 than on sn-1 position for all PL. Linolenate was distributed relatively equally at low concentration but preferred sn-2 position at high concentration.     

Characterization of phospholipids from glyphosate-tolerant soybeans

The phospholipids from three control and two glyphosate-tolerant soybean cultivars were isolated by extraction of soy flakes with hexane and characterized after separation by high-pressure liquid chromatography. In addition, several lots of commercial fluid lecithin were analyzed and the results were compared to values published in the literature. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid were identified as major components in these cultivars and in the commercial lecithin samples. The results showed that glyphosate-tolerant soybeans yield lecithin comparable and equivalent to conventional soybean cultivars.     

Surfactant properties of low molecular weight phospholipids

Surface tensions, critical micelle concentrations (CMCs), contact angles on hydrophobic polyethylene, and foaming characteristics of phosphatidic acids, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, and phosphatidylglycerols were measured to determine their suitability as substitutes for traditional surfactants. These phospholipids have fatty acid chains of 5 to 12 carbon atoms, a range over which they are soluble at room temperature. Their surface tensions decrease with increasing concentrations until their CMCs are reached, above which their plateau surface tensions are as low as 21 mN/m, indicating excellent surface activities. In general, plateau surface tensions decrease with increasing chain length within each phospholipid type. The classical relationship for In CMC vs. chain length is followed with slopes typical of anionic surfactants for phosphatidic acids and phosphatidylglycerols and resembling zwitterionic surfactants for phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines, consistent with the charge on the hydrophilic group. The wetting capabilities of aqueous solutions on polyethylene are good and foam heights and stabilities are high, the latter two properties being comparable to traditional anionic (sodium dodecylsulfate) and nonionic (octylphenol polyethoxylate) surfactants. Some anomalies are observed regarding the effect of chain length on wetting and foaming, probably due to the depletion effect. Many phospholipids slowly degrade in aqueous solution. We conclude that short-chain phospholipids exhibit excellent surfactant properties and may be useful in many applications.     

Effect of low-dose γ-radiation on individual phospholipids in aqueous suspension

A series of individual phospholipids (phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylserines and phosphatidylglycerols) containing either saturated or unsaturated fatty acid chains was irradiated at 9.66 kGy and 0–4°C in aqueous suspension. The phospholipids were analyzed by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a silica column with an evaporative light scattering detector. Phospholipid disappearance and production of two radiolytic products, phosphatidic acid and the lysophospholipid, after irradiation were quantitated from calibration curves of synthetic standards. Dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid and monopalmitoylphosphatidylcholine from irradiated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine were identified by liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry.     

Survey of the fatty acid composition of peanut (arachis hypogaea) germplasm and characterization of their epoxy and eicosenoic acids

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) plant introductions (732) were analyzed for fatty acid composition. Palmitate varied from 8.2 to 15.1%, stearate 1.1 to 7.2%, oleate 31.5 to 60.2%, linoleate 19.9 to 45.4%, arachidate 0.8 to 3.2%, eicosenoate 0.6 to 2.6%, behenate 1.8 to 5.4%, and lignocerate 0.5 to 2.5%. The eicosenoate was shown to be cis-11-eicosenoate. In addition, epoxy fatty acids were found in many plant introductions in percentages ranging as high as 2.5%. These were tentatively identified as chiefly 9,10-epoxy stearate and coronarate with smaller amounts of vernolate. The percentage of palmitate was shown to be correlated positively with linoleate and negatively with oleate, eicosenoate, and lignocerate. Stearate was highly correlated with arachidate and negatively with eicosenoate and lignocerate. Oleate and linoleate, the two major fatty acids, were negatively correlated. Arachidate was negatively correlated with eicosenoate, and eicosenoate was positively correlated with lignocerate. Behenate and lignocerate were positively correlated. Epoxy esters were positively correlated with palmitate and negatively with oleate. Segregation of the plant introductions by axis flower, growth habit, and pod types showed significant differences that reflected the same fatty acid groupings revealed by the correlations.     

Effects of benzoic and cinnamic acids on growth,mineral composition,and chlorophyll content of soybean

Organic acids are major water-soluble allelochemicals found in soil infested with quackgrass and are involved in several processes that are important in plant growth and development. This study was carried out to gain more information on the effects of benzoic acid (BEN) andtrans-cinnamic acid (CIN) on growth, mineral composition, and chlorophyll content of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Maple Bell] grown in nutrient solution. The two allelochemicals reduced root and shoot dry biomass of soybean. Treated plants had fewer lateral roots and tended to grow more horizontally compared to the untreated plants. Lateral roots were stunted and less flexible. The amounts of P, K, Mg, Mn, Cl^–, and SO ₄ ^2– were lower, and Zn and Fe contents were higher in roots of plants grown with BEN or CIN as compared to untreated plants. Shoots of plants grown with the allelochemical showed greater accumulation of Ca, Mg, and Zn, whereas P and Fe contents were reduced. The BEN and CIN also caused reductions in leaf chlorophyll content. The BEN and CIN may be responsible for negative allelopathic effects of quackgrass on soybean by inhibiting root growth, by altering ion uptake and transport, and by reducing chlorophyll content.Contribution 493 of the Soils and Crop Research Center.     

Trans fatty acid composition and tocopherol content in vegetable oils produced in Mexico

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the trans fatty acid (TFA) composition and the tocopherol content in vegetable oils produced in Mexico. Sample oils were obtained from 18 different oil refining factories, which represent 72% of the total refineries in Mexico. Fatty acids and TFA isomers were determined by gas chromatography using a 100-m fused-silica capillary column (SP-2560). Tocopherol content was quantified by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using an ultraviolet detector and a LiChrosorb Si60 column (25 cm). Results showed that 83% of the samples corresponded to soybean oil. Seventy-two percent of the oils analyzed showed TFA content higher than 1%. Upon comparing the tocopherol contents in some crude oils to their corresponding deodorized samples, a loss of 40–56% was found. The processing conditions should be carefully evaluated in order to reduce the loss of tocopherols and the formation of TFA during refining.     

Enzymatic interesterification of palm stearin and palm kernel olein

Palm stearin (POs) and palm kernel olein (PKOo) blends were modified by enzymatic interesterification (IE) to achieve the physical properties of margarine fats. POs and PKOo are both products of the palm oil industry that presently have limited use. Rhizomucor miehei lipase (Lipozyme IM 60) was used to catalyze the interesterification of oil blends at 60°C. The progress of interesterification was monitored by following changes in triacylglyceride composition. At 60°C interesterification can be completed in 5 h. Degrees of hydrolysis obtained through IE for all blends were decreased from 2.9 to 2.0 by use of dry molecular sieves. The solid fat contents of POs/PKOo 30:70 and 70:30 interesterified blends were 9.6 and 18.1 at 20°C, and 0 and 4.1 at 35°C, respectively. The slip melting point (SMP) of POs/PKOo 30:70 was 40.0°C before interesterification and 29.9°C after IE. For POs/PKOs 70:30, SMP was 47.7 before and 37.5°C after IE. These thermal characteristics of interesterified POs/PKOo blend ratios from 30:70 to 70:30 were comparable to those of commercial margarines. Results showed that IE was effective in producing solid fats with less than 0.5% trans.     

Arabidopsis serine decarboxylase mutants implicate the roles of ethanolamine in plant growth and development

Ethanolamine is important for synthesis of choline, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in plants. The latter two phospholipids are the major phospholipids in eukaryotic membranes. In plants, ethanolamine is mainly synthesized directly from serine by serine decarboxylase. Serine decarboxylase is unique to plants and was previously shown to have highly specific activity to l-serine. While serine decarboxylase was biochemically characterized, its functions and importance in plants were not biologically elucidated due to the lack of serine decarboxylase mutants. Here we characterized an Arabidopsis mutant defective in serine decarboxylase, named atsdc-1 (Arabidopsis thaliana serine decarboxylase-1). The atsdc-1 mutants showed necrotic lesions in leaves, multiple inflorescences, sterility in flower, and early flowering in short day conditions. These defects were rescued by ethanolamine application to atsdc-1, suggesting the roles of ethanolamine as well as serine decarboxylase in plant development. In addition, molecular analysis of serine decarboxylase suggests that Arabidopsis serine decarboxylase is cytosol-localized and expressed in all tissue.     

Lipid composition and oxidative stability of oils in hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.) grown in New Zealand

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) samples were collected from six different cultivars of trees grown in an experimental orchard at Lincoln University. Three U.S. commercial cultivars (Butler, Ennis, and Barcelona), two European commerical cultivars (Tonda di Giffoni and Campanica), and one New Zealand selection (Whiteheart) were evaluated. The total oil, stability to oxidation of the oil, and fatty acid, tocopherol, and sterol composition were determined on samples of freshly extracted hazelnut oil. The total oil content of the seeds ranged from 54.6 to 63.2% while the stability of the oil, as measured by the Rancimat test ranged from 15.6 to 25.3 h. The content of the monounsaturated oleic acid in the oils ranged from 73.8 to 80.1% of the total fatty acids, while the tocopherol content ranged from 225.8 to 552.0 mg/g freshly extracted oil. The major desmethylsterols were sitosterol, ranging from 1416 to 1693 μg/g, campesterol, ranging from 78 to 114 μg/g, and Δ5-avenasterol, ranging from 110 to 170 μg/g. The oil extracted from the cultivar Whiteheart was more stable (measured by Rancimat) than the oil from all other cultivars grown at the same location and under the same conditions. Whiteheart contained higher levels of total and γ-tocopherol when compared to the other cultivars. The higher levels of tocopherol in Whiteheart help to explain the greater stability of the oil during the oxidative stress test. These results suggest that nuts from the cultivar Whiteheart could be stored longer than the other nuts tested. Presented as a poster at the 87th AOCS Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, April 28–May 1, 1996.     

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of several insect pheromone alcohols

Details are given for the determination of the enantiomeric composition of several insect pheromone alcohols. The two methods used in the determination were: formation of the derivative with (+)--methoxy--trifluoromethylphenylacetyl chloride and the use of chiral lanthanide shift reagents. The five alcohols studied and their enantiomeric compositions are: sulcatol fromGnathotrichus sulcatus 6535 (+)/(–),trans-verbenol fromDendroctonus frontalis 6040 (+)/(–), 4-methyl-3-heptanol fromScolytus multistriatus 100% (–), seudenol fromDendroctonus pseudotsugae 5050 (+)/(–), and ipsdienol fromIps pini (Idaho) 100% (–). Determinations were done on 50–500 g substrate.     

Microwave roasting and phospholipids in soybeans (Glycine max. L.) at different moisture contents

The effects of microwave roasting on phospholipids in soybeans were investigated in relation to moisture. Whole soybeans at different moistures (9.6, 38.2, and 51.9%) were roasted by exposure to microwaves at a frequency of 2,450 MHz. During microwave treatments, the lower the moisture content, the higher was the internal temperature in soybeans at the end of microwave roasting. Total lipids were extracted from the beans after microwave treatment, and the phospholipids were separated with thin-layer chromatography. Phosphatidylcholine was the principal phospholipid in the extracted lipids from all unroasted and roasted bean samples. After microwave roasting, phospholipids containing an amino group, especially phosphatidylethanolamine, decreased substantially (P<0.05) in lower-moisture soybeans. However, increasing the moisture content depressed a rise in the internal temperature of soybeans and prevented a reduction in phospholipids and/or polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipids. Based on the changes in the composition and fatty acid distribution of phospholipids in soybeans during microwave roasting, it is necessary to consider the moisture content in soybeans when roasting in a microwave oven.     

An improved method for determining the composition of FFA in red tide flagellates by RP-HPLC with fluorescence detection

An improved method for determining the composition of FFA in red tide flagellates by HPLC with fluorescence detection is described. For this purpose, total lipids from Heterosigma akashiwo, Chattonella antiqua, and C. marina were allowed to react with 9-anthryldiazomethane, then the resulting 9-anthrylmethyl esters of FFA were analyzed without any purification by RP-HPLC on a highly efficient C18 column (Superspher 100 RP-18e, 25 cm×4 mm i.d., 4 μm particle size; Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). Clear separations of long-chain saturated and unsaturated FFA, including 14∶0 and 16∶1, which were major components in the flagellates and were unresolved on a previously used C18 column, were achieved by a stepwise gradient elution using acetonitrile, water, and propan-2-ol. Two characteristic FA, 18∶5n−3 and trans-16∶1n−13, whose behaviors on RP-HPLC had not been reported previously, were also clearly separated from the other FFA. The FFA compositions of the flagellates determined by HPLC were in good agreement with those obtained by GLC. The present method is simple and sensitive, and would be widely applicable for compositional analysis of microalgal FFA.