Lipids and lipophilic components of certain plants

Abstract

Much attention is presently paid to the study of lipids and lipophilic components of plant origin in order to fabricate medicinal preparations based on them [1,2].In continuation of research in this area, we isolated lipophilic components by the literature method [2] from milk thistle herb (Silybum marianum, Asteraceae) (1), apple leaves (Malus sylvestris, Rosaceae) (2), pear leaves (Pyrus communis, Rosaceae) (3), pressings (4) and leaves (5) of cultured Cabernet-Savignon grape (Vitis vinifera, Vitaceae), and flowers (6) and leaves (7) of elder (Sambucus nigra, Caprifoliaceae). The contents of these were (%): 4.15 (1), 6.9 (2), 2.93 (3), 11.25 (4), 13.24 (5), 4.87 (6), and 6.39 (7).These data show that the contents of lipophilic components are rather high.We also determined the fatty-acid compositions in them and the contents of carotinoids and chlorophylls (Table 1). The saturated acids in all samples were dominated by 16:0 (6.4-30.2%); unsaturated, linoleic (8.4-74.2%) and linolenic (20.8-57.8%), except for 4, 6, and 7, where its amount was insignificant (0.8-2.3%).The carotinoid contents were insignificant. We obtained additional data on the studied samples by measuring three-dimensional fluorescence spectra, which were recorded by three-dimensional scanning spectrofluorimetry in the UV and visible spectral regions on a Hitachi F4010 spectrofluorimeter in the range 350-750 nm. Spectra were processed by constructing three-dimensional plots as before [3].The principal peaks were characteristic of emission from simple phenolic compounds, certain lipids and phospholipids, and a mixture of chlorophylls.A group of peaks typical of emission from flavonoid and coumarin aglycons was also observed. The lipids and lipophilic components were studied as before [2]. The composition of fatty-acid methyl esters was determined by GC on a Chrom-5 chromatograph with a flameionization detector; N 2 carrier gas, flow rate 30 mL/min; rate of H 2 supply 35 mL/min; oxygen, 350 mL/min; temperature of decomposition 186°C, injector 230°C, detector 220°C; stationary phase Inerton AW (0.16-0.20 mm). The stationary phase was treated with dimethyldichlorosilane; mobile phase, diethyleneglycolsuccinate (10% of the stationary phase mass).Fatty acids were identified by comparison of retention times with a mixture of standards [4]. The amounts of chlorophylls and carotinoids were found as before [5].