| Abstract: | Positional distribution of fatty acids in the lecithins (phosphatidyl choline) of cottonseed, groundnut, mustard and sesame seeds was studied. GLC analysis of the methyl esters showed the total lecithins to contain 60–80% of unsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acids liberated by phospholipase A hydrolysis consisted mainly of unsaturated (oleic and linoleic) acids. Estimates of lecithin classes in terms of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the α- and β-position, viz. SS, SU, US and UU, were made in these lecithins. The amount of disaturated (SS) lecithin was negligible and the content of US species was very low. Mustard, sesame, groundnut and cottonseed lecithins contained 27, 47, 56 and 60% of SU species respectively. The diunsaturated (UU) lecithin content was high in mustard (69%) and medium in sesame (49%), groundnut (43%) and cottonseed (31%). |
