Characterization and purification of polyunsaturated fatty acids from microalgae by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and countercurrent chromatography

Summary The present study was undertaken in order to characterize then to purify fatty acids from marine phytoplankton. From a crude mixture of fatty acid methyl esters it was possible to isolate by countercurrent chromatography a mixture of four polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl ester identified as being hexadecatrienoic acid methyl ester, octadecatetraenoic acid methyl ester, eicosapentaenoic acid methyl ester and docosahexaenoic acid methyl ester by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry in electron impact and in positive-ion chemical ionization mode. The four polyunsaturated fatty acids are in different ratios in mixtures from the two microorganisms:Skeletonema costatum andIsochrysis galbana.     

气相色谱/质谱法分析孔石莼中的脂肪酸

建立了孔石莼脂肪酸的气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)测定方法。使用Folch法提取了孔石莼中的总脂,经过2 mol/L HCl-甲醇溶液的甲酯化处理后,采用GC/MS法对其脂肪酸组成进行了分离分析,同时结合有机质谱学规律,分别对饱和脂肪酸甲酯、单不饱和脂肪酸甲酯和多不饱和脂肪酸甲酯的裂解规律和质谱特征进行了分析归纳。通过质谱数据库检索和标准品对照,鉴定出孔石莼中的24种脂肪酸,其中9,12,15-十八碳三烯酸、4,7,10,13-十六碳四烯酸和6,9,2,15-十八碳四烯酸3种主要多不饱和脂肪酸占总脂肪酸含量的45.14%。通过对孔石莼中脂肪酸的分析,表明特征离子在脂肪酸甲酯尤其是多不饱和脂肪酸甲酯的定性方面具有很好的应用价值。     

Investigation of Fatty Acid Composition of Ammi majus Seed Oil by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

The Ammi majus seeds oil constituents of methyl ester derivatives of fatty acids were analyzed using Gas Chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer. The results obtained containing the saturated as well as unsaturated fatty acids of majus seeds oils. A total of 18 different components were identified and quantified. Methyl ester of linoleic acid was found in high concentration 9.00%, among the identified analytes of interest. In addition methyl ester of Oleic acid 5.60%, Palmitic acid 3.98% Linolenic acids 1.42% were found. Concentration of the rest of identified fatty acids analytes were less than 1%. Thus from the results it is apparent that due to the presence of high percentage of valuable analytes concentrations detected in the fatty acid of A. majus, has increased its importance for the consumption in the pharmaceuticals as well as its applications in the new formulations for various skin diseases to prevent and cure from different infections.     

Analysis of the Dynamic Decomposition of Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Tocopherols in Commercial Oils During Deep Frying

The decomposition of unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols in 10 commercial edible oils during deep frying was investigated. The dominant tocopherol in oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was γ-tocopherol, except for natural perilla oil (δ-tocopherol dominant), and the main tocopherol in oleic acid-rich oils was α-tocopherol. The PUFA-rich oils had higher tocopherol contents than the oleic acid-rich oils. Both the reduction rate of total unsaturated fatty acid (TUFA) and total tocopherol (TToc) were linear with frying time (t). The decomposition rate of TToc is faster than that of TUFA since the slope values obtained from fitting equations (Y?=?k t) k_TToc (1.520–14.483) were obviously larger than for k_TUFA (0.155–0.270). By establishing a dynamic decomposition index, unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherol in oils showed dynamic decomposition over multiple frying cycles. The obtained results showed that decomposition characteristics of oils are related to their fatty acid compositions.     

Analytical Characterization of Fatty Acids Composition of Datura alba Seed Oil by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Methyl ester derivatives of fatty acids were analyzed for the determination of the constituents of Datura alba seed oil. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer was used for these analyses. Results delivered that there were saturated as well as unsaturated fatty acids in Datura alba seed oil. Total of 15 different fatty acid components were identified and quantified. Methyl linoleate was found in highest concentration (16.22%) among the identified analytes of interest. In addition methyl esters of Palmitic acid (6.59%), Oleic acid (5.41%) and Stearic acid (1.35%) were found. Concentrations of rest of the detected fatty acids were less than 1%. From the literature it appears that no such work has been performed for the determination of fatty acids in Datura alba seed oil.     

Development of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) fruit and extract standard reference materials

As part of a collaboration with the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements and the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has developed two standard reference materials (SRMs) representing different forms of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), SRM 3250 Serenoa repens fruit and SRM 3251 Serenoa repens extract. Both of these SRMs have been characterized for their fatty acid and phytosterol content. The fatty acid concentration values are based on results from gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis while the sterol concentration values are based on results from GC-FID and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis. In addition, SRM 3250 has been characterized for lead content, and SRM 3251 has been characterized for the content of β-carotene and tocopherols. SRM 3250 (fruit) has certified concentration values for three phytosterols, 14 fatty acids as triglycerides, and lead along with reference concentration values for four fatty acids as triglycerides and 16 free fatty acids. SRM 3251 (extract) has certified concentration values for three phytosterols, 17 fatty acids as triglycerides, β-carotene, and γ-tocopherol along with reference concentration values for three fatty acids as triglycerides, 17 fatty acids as free fatty acids, β-carotene isomers, and δ-tocopherol and information values for two phytosterols. These SRMs will complement other reference materials currently available with concentrations for similar analytes and are part of a series of SRMs being developed for dietary supplements. Contribution of the US Government; not subject to copyright     

Determination of fatty acid methyl esters derived from algae Scenedesmus dimorphus biomass by GC–MS with one‐step esterification of free fatty acids and transesterification of glycerolipids

Algae can synthesize, accumulate and store large amounts of lipids in its cells, which holds immense potential as a renewable source of biodiesel. In this work, we have developed and validated a GC–MS method for quantitation of fatty acids and glycerolipids in forms of fatty acid methyl esters derived from algae biomass. Algae Scenedesmus dimorphus dry mass was pulverized by mortar and pestle, then extracted by the modified Folch method and fractionated into free fatty acids and glycerolipids on aminopropyl solid‐phase extraction cartridges. Fatty acid methyl esters were produced by an optimized one‐step esterification of fatty acids and transesterification of glycerolipids with boron trichloride/methanol. The matrix effect, recoveries and stability of fatty acids and glycerolipids in algal matrix were first evaluated by spiking stable isotopes of pentadecanoic‐2,2‐d₂ acid and glyceryl tri(hexadecanoate‐2,2‐d₂) as surrogate analytes and tridecanoic‐2,2‐d₂ acid as internal standard into algal matrix prior to sample extraction. Later, the method was validated in terms of lower limits of quantitation, linear calibration ranges, intra‐ and inter‐assay precision and accuracy using tridecanoic‐2,2‐d₂ acid as internal standard. The method developed has been applied to the quantitation of fatty acid methyl esters from free fatty acid and glycerolipid fractions of algae Scenedesmus dimorphus .     

Mass spectrometry of 3-methoxy fatty acid methyl esters

Fatty acids with a hydroxyl moiety at the C-3 position are found widely in bacterial lipids, but only rarely in mammalian lipids. The mass spectra of the methyl ether derivative of these hydroxy acids exhibit an intense ion at m/e 75, rather than the rearrangement ion at m/e 74 more typical of fatty acid methyl esters. The mass spectrometric behavior of several 3-methoxy fatty acid methyl esters were studied, and the origin of the unique ion at m/e 75 was established using ¹⁸O and ²H labeled analogs and metastable ion transitions. this ion was shown to arise from the loss of ketene from the 3,4 cleavage ion at m/e 117.     

Direct fatty acid profiling of complex lipids in intact algae by fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry

Fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS) is used for the semiquantitative determination of the fatty acids of complex lipids directly from intact algal cells, crude algal lipid extracts, and vegetable oils. Carboxylate ions, RCOO^?, corresponding to the fatty acid moieties of the complex lipids are detected. The relative abundances of the carboxylate fatty acid ions in the FAB mass spectra agreed with the relative percentages found by gas chromatography of the fatty acid methyl esters derived from the extracted lipids. Chemical ionization/fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry (CI/FABMS) is discussed with respect to enhancing the molecular ions of the fatty acids and triacylglycerols from these materials. The use of FABMS requires little sample preparation, and FABMS enables rapid fatty acid screening, directly from crude biological materials.     

Seed Oil Fatty Acids of Mongolian Compositae: The trans‐Fatty Acids of Heteropappus hispidus,Asterothamnus centrali‐asiaticus and Artemisia palustris

Seed oils from the Compositae plant family are known to contain a variety of unusual fatty acids. Subsequent to the recent discovery of γ‐linolenic acid in Saussurea and Youngia, further Mongolian Compositae species were investigated for their seed oil fatty acid composition. A number of δ3trans‐fatty acids (16 : 1δ3t, 18 : 1δ3t and 18 : 3δ3t, 9c, 12c) were found in the seed oils of Heteropappus hispidus and Asterothamnus centrali‐asiaticus. The latter fatty acid, but not the trans‐monoenes, was also found in one species of Artemisia. These unusual fatty acid isomers were characterized by capillary gas‐liquid chromatographic (GLC) separations in combination with other chromatographic techniques (analytical thin layer chromatography, TLC and preparative argentation TLC), and infrared spectrocsopy (IR). Their identity was further confirmed by co‐chromatography with other seed oils known to contain these trans‐fatty acids. The fact that within the Compositae plant family there are apparently two or three distinct groups of genera containing δ3trans‐fatty acids is discussed.     

Isolation of a furan fatty acid from Hevea brasiliensis latex employing the combined use of pH‐zone‐refining and conventional countercurrent chromatography

Furan fatty acids are valuable and bioactive minor fatty acids that usually contribute <0.1% to the fatty acid content of food samples. Their biological role still remains unclear as authentic furan fatty acid standards are not readily available and thorough experimental studies verifying the relevance of furan fatty acids are thus virtually impossible. An efficient protocol for the isolation of the furan fatty acid 9‐(3‐methyl‐5‐pentylfuran‐2‐yl)‐nonanoic acid from hydrolyzed and centrifuged latex of Hevea brasiliensis was developed using countercurrent chromatography. A first run using pH‐zone‐refining countercurrent chromatography provided 48.4 mg of 9‐(3‐methyl‐5‐pentylfuran‐2‐yl)‐nonanoic acid from 210 mg latex extract in a purity of 95%. The purity was increased to 99% by means of one second run in conventional countercurrent chromatography mode. The Structure and purity of 9‐(3‐methyl‐5‐pentylfuran‐2‐yl)‐nonanoic acid were determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Composition of the lipophilic extract from the sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Axinella carteri</Emphasis> collected from the Bay of Bengal of the Orissa coast

The composition of the lipophilic extract from the two specimen of the sponge Axinella carteri (Dendy) collected from two different depths of the Bay of Bengal of the Orissa coast were investigated. Fatty acids, as well as volatile compounds and sterols, were identified. A high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids was identified from depth species compared to the species collected from shallow water. The presence of a high concentration of a polymethyl-branched fatty acid, i.e., phytanic acid, and a demospongic acid (C26:2, Δ 5,9) were identified in both specimen, but the % composition of both acids were more in the species collected from depth than the species collected from shallow water. Important polyunsaturated fatty acids like 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid and 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were also found in depth species which were absent in the species collected from shallow water. Antimicrobial screening of the lipid extracts of A. carteri was also studied against different pathogens. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 224–227, May–June, 2008.     

Lipids from the Marine Alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gracilaria verrucosa</Emphasis>

The composition of lipids and fatty acids from the red alga Gracilaria verrucosa, for which a high content of 20:4n-6 acid is typical, was studied. The principal lipids were digalactosyldiacylglycerides, phosphatidylcholines (PC), monogalactosyldiacylglyderides (MGDG), and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerides, the fraction of each was approximately the same. Sphingophospholipids, inositephosphoceramides, were identified among the polar lipids. Each lipid class differed in the ratio of fatty acids (FA). The FA of all glycerolipids contained 20:4n-6 acid but its concentration was greatest in MGDG and PC, 67.2% and 56.5% of the acid mass.__________Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 230–232, May–June, 2005.     

Die massenspektrometrische Fragmentierung von Neopentylpolyolestern. 1—Pentaerythrittetrafettsäureester

The fragmentation of the homologous fatty acid tetraesters of pentaerythritol (C-2 to C-14) upon electron impact was investigated. The main fragment ions are [M? RCOO]⁺ and [M? RCOOH]⁺, for which cyclic acetal structures are postulated. Subsequent fragmentation was elucidated by ‘direct analysis of daughter ion’ (DADI) measurements and high resolution measurements. Esters of branched fatty acids can be distinguished from esters of n-fatty acids by characteristic ions. Isomeric esters of n-fatty acids cannot be separated by gas chromatography but identification is also possible by mass spectrometry.     

The Structure of a Novel Neutral Lipid A from the Lipopolysaccharide of Bradyrhizobium elkanii Containing Three Mannose Units in the Backbone

The chemical structure of the lipid A of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA 76 (a member of the group of slow‐growing rhizobia) has been established. It differed considerably from lipids A of other Gram‐negative bacteria, in that it completely lacks negatively charged groups (phosphate or uronic acid residues); the glucosamine (GlcpN) disaccharide backbone is replaced by one consisting of 2,3‐dideoxy‐2,3‐diamino‐D ‐glucopyranose (GlcpN3N) and it contains two long‐chain fatty acids, which is unusual among rhizobia. The GlcpN3N disaccharide was further substituted by three D ‐mannopyranose (D ‐Manp) residues, together forming a pentasaccharide. To establish the structural details of this molecule, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, chemical composition analyses and high‐resolution mass spectrometry methods (electrospray ionisation Fourier‐transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT‐ICR MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)) were applied. By using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy experiments, it was confirmed that one D ‐Manp was linked to C‐1 of the reducing GlcpN3N and an α‐(1→6)‐linked D ‐Manp disaccharide was located at C‐4′ of the non‐reducing GlcpN3N (α‐linkage). Fatty acid analysis identified 12:0(3‐OH) and 14:0(3‐OH), which were amide‐linked to GlcpN3N. Other lipid A constituents were long (ω‐1)‐hydroxylated fatty acids with 26–33 carbon atoms, as well as their oxo forms (28:0(27‐oxo) and 30:0(29‐oxo)). The 28:0(27‐OH) was the most abundant acyl residue. As confirmed by high‐resolution mass spectrometry techniques, these long‐chain fatty acids created two acyloxyacyl residues with the 3‐hydroxy fatty acids. Thus, lipid A from B. elkanii comprised six acyl residues. It was also shown that one of the acyloxyacyl residues could be further acylated by 3‐hydroxybutyric acid (linked to the (ω‐1)‐hydroxy group).     

高效液相色谱-质谱分离鉴定荧光试剂标记的脂肪酸

以2-(2-(10-蒽基)-萘[2,3-d]咪唑)-乙基-对甲苯磺酸酯(ANITS)作为柱前衍生化试剂,在Eclipse XDB-C8色谱柱上,梯度洗脱实现了20种游离脂肪酸(FFA)衍生物的完全基线分离。90℃下在DMF溶剂中以K2CO3作催化剂,选取衍生试剂摩尔数为脂肪酸的7倍,衍生反应40min可获得稳定的荧光产物。激发和发射波长分别为250nm和512nm。采用大气压化学电离源(APCI)正离子模式,实现了油菜蜂花粉中游离脂肪酸的质谱鉴定。所有脂肪酸的线性相关系数均大于0.9999,检出限为24.76~98.79fmol。     

Unusual Δ5cis-fatty acids in seed oils of Cimicifuga species

A range of unusual fatty acids with cis-5-unsaturation had been reported in the seed oil of Caltha palustris. Seed oils of Cimicifuga spp. have now been found to contain the same unusual fatty acids as are present in Caltha, plus several other minor fatty acids to give a more complex and more unsaturated seed oil fatty acid pattern. The gas chromatographic fatty acid patterns found seem to be consistent and chemotaxonomically significant, because essentially the same pattern was found in several species of the genus Cimicifuga. These findings may shed a new light on the relation of Cimicifuga to Caltha, and to other genera in the plant family Ranunculaceae. The situation is illustrated by capillary GLC seed oil fatty acid methyl ester “fingerprints” obtained from Cimicifuga and Caltha, and is discussed in relation to other genera. The occurrence in nature of several of these unusual fatty acids, and their chemotax-onomic significance is discussed. The close relation of GLC fatty acid patterns of Caltha and Cimicifuga could indicate monophyly and/or their belonging to the same tribe or subtribe. These observations are not in accordance with the phylogenetic systematic schemes of the genera in this plant family as published by various authors.     

Isolation of 6,9,12,15-Hexadecatetraenoic Fatty Acid (16:4n-1) Methyl Ester from Transesterified Fish Oil by HSCCC

Fish oil is considered a healthy food due to the presence of large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially in the form of n-3 fatty acids 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3; EPA) and 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA). However, fish oil is known to contain many other PUFAs, some of which are uncommon and whose bioactivity is scarcely investigated. In this study, we isolated the rare PUFA 6,9,12,15-hexadecatetraenoic fatty acid (16:4n-1) which bears a double bond on the terminal carbon from fish oil in form of its methyl ester. We used high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) for the fractionation of 500 mg-portions of fatty acid methyl esters prepared from a fish oil capsule and investigated the fractions by GC/MS. Twenty-eight 13-mL fractions were collected and fatty acid methyl esters were detected in fractions 11–23. The elution was carried out in normal phase mode, providing the long-chained saturated and monoenoic fatty acids first. More than 100 fatty acids ranging from 10:0 to 26:0 could be identified in the HSCCC fractions, and most of them were polyunsaturated. The reproducibility of the HSCCC method was shown by repeated injection of the fish oil and the fractions containing 6,9,12,15-hexadecatetraenoic fatty acid (16:4n-1). The late eluting 16:4n-1 methyl ester was isolated in pure form and its structure was verified.

     

液相色谱-四极杆-飞行时间串联质谱法高通量分析美国红参的脑苷脂分子种

利用液相色谱-四极杆-飞行时间串联质谱法(LC-Q-TOF MS/MS)分析美国红参(Parastichopus californicus)脑苷脂的分子种组成。以氯仿-甲醇(2：1,v/v)溶液提取,经皂化和固相萃取柱(SPE)净化后,在正离子模式下,通过自动二级质谱方式同时获取样品脑苷脂分子的一级和二级质谱图。筛取含180 Da中性丢失碎片的分子,再结合二级质谱中的长链碱和脂肪酸碎片,确定每种脑苷脂分子的结构。通过该法一次性共分析出123种美国红参脑苷脂分子种;含有的长链碱共18种,其中植物鞘氨醇型与鞘氨醇型长链碱的相对含量比为1：2;脂肪酸为18~25碳的饱和或单不饱和脂肪酸,以24碳脂肪酸为主,2-羟基脂肪酸占58.62%,饱和与单不饱和脂肪酸的相对含量比约为1：3。LC-Q-TOF MS/MS法分析海参脑苷脂分子种的灵敏度高,准确,简便,为海参脑苷脂的构效关系研究及功能食品开发提供理论依据。     

大果白刺游离脂肪酸的柱前衍生高效液相色谱-荧光检测法分析

采用2-（11H-苯[a]咔唑）乙基对甲苯磺酸酯（BCETS）为柱前荧光衍生试剂,通过梯度洗脱使得18种脂肪酸在BDS-C8柱上得到良好的分离.方法应用于大果白刺不同部位中游离脂肪酸的分析,结果表明大果白刺的果皮果肉和叶子中均含有大量的不饱和脂肪酸,其总不饱和脂肪酸含量分别为70.74%和73.47%.大果白刺种子中不饱和脂肪酸的含量相对较少,仅占总脂肪酸含量的57.21%,其不饱和脂肪酸组成主要是C18∶1（油酸）和C18∶2（亚油酸）.其中,大果白刺的果皮果肉中,不饱和脂肪酸主要是C18∶1、C18∶2和C18∶3（亚麻酸）.其叶子中的不饱和脂肪酸主要是C18∶3,所占总脂肪酸比例为48.34%.首次对大果白刺中的脂肪酸进行了分析,可以为大果白刺在食品、药品中的进一步开发应用和质量控制提供一定的数据支持.