The α,β-distribution of oleic,linoleic and linolenic acids in cruciferae seed triglycerides

Correlation studies on lipolysis data from 24 species of Cruciferae seed triglycerides have revealed very regular positional distribution patterns for oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. When the ratio % 18:1 in β-position/% 18:1 in total triglycerides for each species is plotted vs. the content of Category I acids (16:0, 18:0, plus all C₂₀, C₂₂ and C₂₄ acids) in the total triglycerides, a smooth curve is obtained. Application of suitable statistical procedures yields a best-fitting curve, from which an equation expressing the % 18:1 in the β-position as a function of the fatty acid composition of the total triglycerides can be derived. The % 18:1 in the α-position is then readily calculated by difference. Similar distinctive relationships have also been developed for linoleic and linolenic acids. Comparison of calculated and experimental results shows that the relationships developed here are considerably more accurate than the previous Gunstone-Mattson and Evans hypotheses for estimating the α,β-distributions of 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 in Cruciferae seed triglycerides. Presented in part at the AOCS meeting in San Francisco, California, April 1969.