Minor components ofLesquerella fendleri seed oil

Routine analysis of fatty ester fractions ofLesquerella fendleri oil suggested the presence of epoxy compounds and other minor components. By a combination of open silica column and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractionations of the methyl esters prepared from the oil, these constitutents were isolated and then characterized by thin-layer chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS—electron ionization, EI, and chemical ionization, CI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR—¹H and¹³C). Three epoxy acids, 15,16-epoxy-9,12-octadecadienoic, 9,10-epoxy-12-octadecenoic and 9,10-epoxy-octadecanoic, were found. Hydroxy acids present included a C-22 homologue of lesquerolic acid (16-hydroxy-12-docosenoic acid) and 14,15-dihydroxy-tricosanoic acid. Other minor ocmponents included four sterols, brassicasterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, and a series of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids up to C30. Visiting postdoctoral scientist sponsored by the government of India.