GLC-MS analysis of the fatty acids of the seed oil,triglycerides, and cyanolipid of Paulliania elegans (Sapindaceae) – a rich source of cis-13-eicosenoic acid (paullinic acid)

The fatty acids of the total lipids, triglycerides, and the cyanolipid of Paullinia elegans (Sapindaceae) have been analyzed as their methyl esters and 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was shown that the gas chromatographic separation of the oxazoline derivatives was sufficient to ensure the correct identification of the monoenic fatty acid positional isomers. Stereochemistry of the double bonds has been confirmed by infrared and ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. cis-13-Eicosenoic Acid (Paullinic acid) (44.4%) and cis-11-octadecenoic acid (cis-vaccenic acid) (19.8%) were found to be the main components beside other monoenoic acid positional isomers. The cyanolipid of P. elegans was identified as 2,4-dihydroxy-3-methylenebutyronitrile derivative by IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and was quantified by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy (71.4%).