Ethyl linolenate is elevated in meconium of very-low-birth-weight neonates exposed to alcohol in utero.

BACKGROUND: The health implications of in utero alcohol exposure have been difficult to study in very-low-birth-weight newborns (VLBW) because of an inability to identify maternal alcohol exposure. Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) are elevated in meconium of alcohol-exposed term newborns. We hypothesized that meconium FAEEs would be similarly elevated in alcohol-exposed VLBW premature newborns. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study of 64 VLBW neonates, newborns were classified into Non-Exposed, Any Exposure, or Weekly Exposure groups based on an in-depth structured maternal interview. Meconium FAEE concentrations were quantified via gas chromatography mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Alcohol exposure during Trimester 1 (Any Exposure) occurred in ~30% of the pregnancies, while 11% of the subjects reported drinking ≥ 1 drink/week (Weekly Exposure). Meconium ethyl linolenate was higher in Any Exposure (P = 0.01) and Weekly Exposure groups (P = 0.005) compared to the Non-Exposed VLBW group. There was a significant positive correlation between Trimester 1 drinking amounts and the concentration of meconium ethyl linolenate (P = 0.005). Adjusted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves evaluating ethyl linolenate to identify alcohol-exposed VLBW newborns generated areas under the curve of 88% with sensitivities of 86-89% and specificities of 83-88%. CONCLUSION: Despite prematurity, meconium FAEEs hold promise to identify the alcohol-exposed VLBW newborn.

Fatty acid profile of milk and Cacioricotta cheese from Italian Simmental cows as affected by dietary flaxseed supplementation.

The study aimed to determine the effects of adding flaxseed to the diet on the fatty acid profile of the milk of Italian Simmental cows and on the Cacioricotta cheese thereby produced. The experiment involved 24 Italian Simmental cows divided into 2 groups of 12 animals according to the diet fed: a control diet (CO) with no flaxseed supplementation, and a diet supplemented with whole flaxseed (FS). Milk yield and composition was not significantly changed by diet, whereas saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were increased by flaxseed supplementation. Cows fed flaxseed showed higher percentages of long-chain fatty acids: in particular, linolenic acids, mainly represented by C18:3n-3, and n-3 series were higher in the FS group than in the CO group. The percentage of MUFA was higher by about 12% in FS than in CO, mainly due to the contribution of C18:1 cis-9. The percentage of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in milk was not significantly changed by flaxseed supplementation. Furthermore, atherogenic and thrombogenic indices were lower by about 30 and 16%, respectively, in the FS group compared with the CO group. The fatty acid profile of Cacioricotta cheese produced using Italian Simmental cow milk showed higher levels of MUFA, PUFA, and n-3, and improved atherogenic and thrombogenic indices in FS than in CO, confirming the ability to transfer beneficial molecules from milk into cheese. In particular, cheese-making technology contributed to the increased CLA content in Cacioricotta cheese.

Impact of Cultivar on Profile and Concentration of Lipophilic Bioactive Compounds in Kernel Oils Recovered from Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) by-Products.

Lipophilic bioactive compounds in oils recovered from the kernels of seven sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars, harvested at single location in 2013, were studied. Oil yield in sweet cherry ranged between 30.3-40.3 % (w/w) dw. The main fatty acids were oleic acid (39.62-49.92 %), linoleic acid (31.13-38.81 %), α-eleostearic acid (7.23-10.73 %) and palmitic acid (5.59-7.10 %), all four represented approximately 95 % of the total detected fatty acids. The ranges of total tocochromanols and sterols were between 83.1-111.1 and 233.6-419.4 mg/100 g of oil, respectively. Regardless of the cultivar, the γ-tocopherol and ß-sitosterol were the main lipophilic minor bioactive compounds. The content of the carotenoids and squalene were between 0.38-0.62 and 60.9-127.7 mg/100 g of oil, respectively. Three significant correlations were found between oil yield and total contents of sterols (r = -0.852), tocochromanols (r = -0.880) and carotenoids (r = -0.698) in sweet cherry kernel oils. The oil yield, as well as the content of lipophilic bioactive compounds in oil was significantly affected by the cultivar.

Uptake of conjugated linolenic acids and conversion to cis-9, trans-11-or trans-9, trans-11-conjugated linoleic acids in Caco-2 cells.

Dietary oils containing large amounts of conjugated linolenic acids (CLnA) may be regarded as a source of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), which have been suspected to bear health-promoting properties. Indeed, CLnA can be converted into CLA in mammals. The objective of the present study was to investigate the uptake of CLnA and their metabolism into CLA in Caco-2 cells, as a validated in vitro model of the intestinal barrier. Caco-2 cells were incubated for 24 h in the presence of either α-eleostearic, ß-eleostearic, catalpic or punicic acid. We first observed that Caco-2 cells take these CLnA up at different rates and then convert them but with varying efficiency depending on the structure of the Δ13 double bond. Finally, the distribution of CLnA between neutral lipids (NL) and phospholipids appeared to be linked to their number of trans double bonds: the higher the number, the higher the accumulation in the NL fraction.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of conjugated linolenic acid isomers against streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of α-eleostearic acid and punicic acid, two isomers of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) present in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and snake gourd oil (Trichosanthes anguina), respectively, against oxidative stress, inflammatory challenge and aberration in erythrocyte morphology due to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Male albino rats were divided into four groups consisting of eight animals in each group. The first group served as control and diabetes was induced in rats in groups 2-4 by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ. Moreover, rats in groups 3 and 4 were treated with 0·5 % of α-eleostearic acid and 0·5 % of punicic acid of the total lipid given, respectively, by oral administration once per d. After administration, CLnA isomers had significantly reduced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and restored antioxidant and pro-inflammatory enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, NO synthase level in pancreas, blood and erythrocyte lysate. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay of plasma showed that CLnA treatment caused improvement in the FRAP value which was altered after STZ treatment due to an increased level of free radicals. Expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 in blood and expression of hepatic NF-κB (p65) increased significantly after STZ treatment due to increased inflammation which was restored with the administration of CLnA isomers. From the obtained results, it could be concluded that α-eleostearic acid and punicic acid showed potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity with varying effectivity.

Comparative study of hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic effects of conjugated linolenic acid isomers against induced biochemical perturbations and aberration in erythrocyte membrane fluidity.

AIM OF STUDY: The purpose of the study was to evaluate hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic activities of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) isomers, present in bitter gourd and snake gourd seed, in terms of amelioration of plasma lipid profile, lipoprotein oxidation and erythrocyte membrane fluidity after oral administration. METHODS: Male albino rats were divided into six groups. Group 1 was control, and others were induced with oxidative stress by oral gavage of sodium arsenite (Sa). Group 2 was kept as treated control, and groups 3-6 were further treated with different oral doses of seed oils to maintaining definite concentration of CLnA isomers (0.5 and 1.0% of total lipid for each CLnA isomer). RESULTS: CLnA isomers normalized cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride contents in plasma and body weight of experimental rats and decreased cholesterol synthesis by reducing hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity. Administration of Sa caused alteration in erythrocyte membrane fluidity due to increase in cholesterol and decrease in phospholipid content. Tissue cholesterol and lipid contents were also increased by Sa administration. These altered parameters were reversed by experimental oil administration. Protective effect of CLnA isomers on erythrocyte morphology was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane showed decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and increase in arachidonic acid content after Sa administration, which was normalized with the treatment of these oils. Supplementation of CLnA isomers restored erythrocyte membrane (EM) lipid peroxidation and lipoprotein oxidation. CONCLUSION: CLnA isomers, present in vegetable oils, showed potent hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic activities against biochemical perturbations.

Lipase-catalysed production of triacylglycerols enriched in pinolenic acid at the sn-2 position from pine nut oil.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to produce triacylglycerols (TAGs) enriched in pinolenic acid (PLA) at the sn-2 position using the principle of acyl migration, from the pine nut oil containing PLA esterified exclusively at the sn-3 position. RESULTS: Two types of lipase-catalysed reactions, i.e. redistribution and reesterification of fatty acids, were successively performed using seven commercially available lipases as biocatalysts. Of the lipases tested, Novozym 435 and Lipozyme TL IM were effective biocatalysts for positioning PLA at the sn-2 location. These biocatalysts were selected for further evaluation of the effects of reaction parameters, such as temperature and water content on the migration of PLA residues to the sn-2 position and TAG content. For both lipases, a significant decrease in TAG content was observed after the lipase-catalysed redistribution of fatty acids for both lipases. The reduced TAG content could be enhanced up to approx. 92%, through lipase-catalysed re-esterification of the hydrolysed fatty acids under vacuum. CONCLUSION: TAG enriched in PLA at the sn-2 position was synthesised from pine nut oil via lipase-catalysed redistribution and re-esterification of fatty acid residues using Lipozyme TL IM and Novozym 435 as biocatalysts.

[Fatty acid of Rkatsiteli grape seed oil, Phellodendron lavallei oil and Amaranthus seeds oil and its comparative byological activity].

The aim of the study is individual qualitively and quantitatively identification of fatty acids in Pkatsiteli grape seed oil, Phellodendron lavallei oil and Amaranthus seed oil and prediction of its biological activity. Using high-effective liquid chromatogramphy fatty acids were franctionated. Their relative concentrations are expressed as percentages of the total fatty acid component. Identification of the fatty acids consituents is based on comparison of their retention time with that of known standards. The predominant fatty acids in the oils were palmitic, oleic and stearic acids. The investigation demonstrated that fatty acids composition takes marked part in lipid metabolism of biological necessary components. The most interesting result of the investigation was the detection of unusual for the essentain oil begenic acid.

Short communication: effects of supplementation with pomegranate seed pulp on concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid and punicic acid in goat milk.

The effects of feeding pomegranate seed pulp (PSP) on milk yield, milk composition, fatty acid profiles of milk fat, and blood metabolites were examined in this study. During a pretrial period, 27 multiparous southern Khorasan (Iran) cross-bred goats were fed a similar diet and dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk composition were recorded. After adaptation and based on pretrial records, the goats were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 experimental diets and were housed in individual stalls. Experimental diets included 0, 6, or 12% of PSP (dry matter basis) and were fed as total mixed rations ad libitum for a 45-d period. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Supplementation of PSP did not affect dry matter intake or average daily gain of goats. Milk yield was not affected by inclusion of PSP in the diet. Milk fat concentration of goats fed diets with 6 and 12% PSP increased, but milk fat yield, milk protein concentration, and milk solids-not-fat concentration of goats were not affected by diets. Feeding PSP did not affect blood glucose, cholesterol, urea N, triglyceride, or lipoproteins. Feeding goats a diet containing 12% PSP modified the milk fatty acid profile, including conjugated linoleic, punicic, and vaccenic acids.

[Analysis of the chemical constituents of essential oil from Ligustrum quihoui by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: [corrected] To study the chemical constituents of essential oil from Ligustrum quihoui. METHODS: Essential oil was extracted by steam distillation (SD). The chemical constituents of essential oil was analyzed by GC-MS. RESULTS: The chemical components in the oil were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by GC-MS, 76 components were seperated and 35 components were identified. The main components are n-Hexadecanoic acid (17.28%), (Z, Z, Z)-9, 12, 15-Octadecatrienoic acid, ethyl ester (12.13%), Phytol (5.80%). CONCLUSION: The method is simple, reliable and with good reprodutivity.

Physicochemical characterization of oil, antioxidant potential, and phenolic profile of seeds isolated from Tunisian pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seeds oils (PSO) from three Tunisian varieties namely Jebali, Testouri, and Gabsi were extracted by ultrasonic-assisted extraction and analyzed for their physicochemical properties, fatty acids (FA) profile, and sterol composition. PSO of Gabsi and Testouri showed the best quality indexes in terms of peroxide and acid values and the highest oxidative stability index was observed for PSO of Gabsi ecotype (2.534 hr). Polyphenol content of PSO of Gabsi ecotype (886.909 mg/kg) was roughly 3 and 23 times higher than that of Jebali and Testouri ecotypes, respectively. Twelve FAs were identified by GC/FID. Punicic acid was the major compounds ranged from 81.53% (Testouri) to 86.41% (Gabsi). The unsaturated/saturated FA ratios of PSO were 14.53, 15.95, and 18.68, respectively for Gabsi, Testouri, and Jebali, respectively. Phytosterols were also identified and ß-sitosterol was the major compound in PSO. In addition, the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of phenolic extracts obtained from pomegranate seeds residues were investigated. Pomegranate seeds extract (PSE) of Gabsi cultivar showed the highest content of polyphenols (64.762 mg CAE/g) and flavonoids (7.127 mg RE/g). Antioxidant potential of extracts was performed using DPPH test and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Results revealed that Gabsi cultivar was the most reactive extract with EC50 of 0.105 mg/mL for DPPH test and 40.622 mg AA/g for TAC. Phenolic profiles of PSE were also investigated. Results showed the importance of cultivar selection in the potential use of bioactive compounds of seeds as nutraceutical ingredients in food and chemical industries. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Three Tunisian pomegranate cultivars namely Jebali, Testouri, and Gabsi were investigated for their seeds oil and phenolic composition. Pomegranate seeds oil (PSO) are rich in bioactive polyunsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols that can be of interest in several food and chemical industrial applications. Moreover, pomegranate seeds extracts are a natural source of antioxidant components, such as phenolic compounds, that can be used by the pharmaceutical industry as promising nutraceutical ingredients. The obtained results can be used to provide guidance on cultivar selection during industrial applications.

Influence of colour type and previous cultivation on secondary metabolites in hypocotyls and leaves of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walpers).

BACKGROUND: Maca is an Andean crop of the Brassicaceae family which is mainly known for its fertility-enhancing properties following consumption. The hypocotyls display various colours ranging from white to black. Each colour has different biological effects. The aim of this study was to analyse the concentrations of major secondary metabolites in hypocotyls and leaves of maca in a controlled planting experiment in the Peruvian Andes at 4130 m above sea level. The effects of colour type and of previous cultivation of the field were examined. RESULTS: In the hypocotyls, the colour type effect was significant for most secondary metabolites; exceptions were beta-sitosterol and campesterol. The lead-coloured, yellow and violet maca hypocotyls were rich in glucosinolates, macaene and macamides, respectively. Previous cultivation affected macaene, campesterol and indole glucosinolate concentrations. Effects on metabolite concentrations in the leaves were minor. Hypocotyls were richer in macaene, macamides and glucosinolates than were leaves, and were poorer in beta-sitosterol and total phenols. CONCLUSION: Colour type has to be considered in maca production, as colour associates with variations in concentrations of distinct bioactive metabolites. Leaves may be interesting for animal nutrition purposes as they contain essentially the same secondary metabolites as the hypocotyls but in clearly lower concentrations.

[Autooxidation of a mixture of lemon essential oils, methyl linolenoate, and methyl oleinate].

Stability of components of a mixture of methyl linolenoate and methyl oleinate with two lemon (Citrus limon L.) essential oils in hexane during their autooxidation in light was studied by gas chromatography. The essential oils differed by their quantitative ratio of components: the single-fold (1x) oil contained approximately 90% monoterpene hydrocarbons and 1.47% citral, whereas the proportions of hydrocarbons and citral in the tenfold (10x) oil were approximately 60 and 18.32%, respectively. The concentration and composition of essential oils influence the rates of fatty-acid oxidation and fatty-acid peroxide cleavage. The 1x lemon oil inhibited the oxidation of methyl linolenoate and methyl oleinate, whereas the 10x oil accelerated these processes. The distinctions in the resistance of the major components of lemon essential oil to oxidation, which are determined by their composition and antioxidant properties of unsaturated fatty acids, were revealed.

Antioxidant activity and fatty acids quantification in Sicilian purslane germplasm.

Portulaca oleracea is an annual succulent herb in the family Portulacaceae. It is a nutritious vegetable with high antioxidant properties and, it is among the richest plant source of ω-3 fatty acids, as well as a rich source of ω-6 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, tocopherols and beta-carotene. In the present study, three purslane populations under different Mediterranean environmental conditions for two years, for future valorization as novel food sources of omega-3 fatty acids, were evaluated. In particular, biomorphological characteristics, total phenols and fatty acids content were determined. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. The population "Cas" appears to have higher antioxidant activity than the other two populations ("Cal" and "S. Ven").The saturated fatty acid content is influenced only by the year of collection, while the polyunsaturated fatty acid by the populations. The most abundant unsatured fatty acids are linoleic and linolenic acids and "Cas" attained the highest contents.

Fatty Acid Composition and Applications of Eriobotrya japonica Seed Oil.

The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is commonly found in Japan. Its fruits are consumed raw or used in processed foods, and its leaves are used as a traditional medicine and in the manufacturing of cosmetics. Additionally, its seeds have several industrial applications. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the fatty acid composition of loquat seed oil, and to evaluate its potential application as a deodorant. Palmitic acid, linoleic acid, behenic acid, and lignoceric acid were found to be the primary fatty acids present in the seeds, among which linoleic acid was involved in the deodorization of allyl methyl sulfide. Based on these results, loquat seed oil has potential for use in deodorant production.

Combined analysis of C-18 unsaturated fatty acids using natural abundance deuterium 2D NMR spectroscopy in chiral oriented solvents.

The quantitative determination of isotopic (2H/1H)i ratios at natural abundance using the SNIF-NMR protocol is a well-known method for understanding the enzymatic biosynthesis of metabolites. However, this approach is not always successful for analyzing large solutes and, specifically, is inadequate for prochiral molecules such as complete essential unsaturated fatty acids. To overcome these analytical limitations, we use the natural abundance deuterium 2D NMR (NAD 2D NMR) spectroscopy on solutes embedded in polypeptide chiral liquid crystals. This approach, recently explored for measuring (2H/1H)i ratios of small analytes (Lesot, P.; Aroulanda, C.; Billault, I. Anal. Chem. 2004, 76, 2827-2835), is a powerful way to separate the 2H signals of all nonequivalent enantioisotopomers on the basis both of the 2H quadrupolar interactions and of the 2H chemical shift. Two significant advances over our previous work are presented here and allow the complete isotopic analysis of four mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters: methyl oleate (1), methyl linoleate (2), methyl linolenate (3), and methyl vernoleate (4). The first consists of using NMR spectrometers operating at higher magnetic field strength (14.1 T) and equipped with a selective cryoprobe optimized for deuterium nuclei. The second is the development of Q-COSY Fz 2D NMR experiments able to produce phased 2H 2D maps after a double Fourier transformation. This combination of modern hardware and efficient NMR sequences provides a unique tool to analyze the (2H/1H)i ratios of large prochiral molecules (C-18) dissolved in organic solutions of poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) and requires smaller amounts of solute than previous study on fatty acids. For each compound (1-4), all 2H quadrupolar doublets visible in the 2D spectra have been assigned on the basis of 2H chemical shifts, isotopic data obtained from isotropic quantitative NAD NMR, and by an interspectral comparison of the anisotropic NAD spectra of four fatty acids. The NMR results are discussed in terms of (2H/1H)i isotopic distribution and molecular orientation in the mesophase. For the first time, we show that the investigation of natural isotopic fractionation of complete fatty acids is possible without the need of chemical modifications, hence providing an alternative method to probe the mechanisms of enzymes implied in the biosynthetic pathway of unsaturated fatty acids.

Regioisomeric structure determination of alpha- and gamma-linolenoyldilinoleoylglycerol in blackcurrant seed oil by silver ion high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Gamma-linolenic acid (Gla) and oils containing Gla have evident positive effects on a variety of disorders, and therefore, the structure of triacylglycerols (TAGs) containing Gla is of special interest. The regioisomeric structures of TAGs 18:3(n-3)/18:2/18:2 (Ala/L/L) and 18:3(n-6)/18:2/18:2 (Gla/L/L) in blackcurrant seed oil were determined by Ag-HPLC/APCI-MS and Ag-HPLC/ESI-MS/MS techniques. In the latter, silver ion adducts were prepared by adding silver nitrate to the postcolumn flow. A new Ag-HPLC solvent system containing nonchlorinated solvents for the separation of Gla- and Ala-containing TAGs is introduced. Ag-HPLC separation of Ala/L/L and Gla/L/L was sufficient and regioisomers sn-LnLL + sn-LLLn and sn-LLnL (Ln, linolenic acid) could be differentiated well with the MS methods used. No discrimination was made between the sn-1 and sn-3 positions. The results show that the methods used are suitable to discriminate and determine the regioisomeric structure of TAGs. The regioisomeric structure of TAG with the fatty acid combination Gla/L/L in blackcurrant seed oil was considered to be practically random (32.7-37.8% of sn-LGlaL). In the fatty acid combination Ala/L/L, the regioisomeric structure is nonrandom (7.3-12.1% of sn-LAlaL) with Ala preferentially in a primary position. It can be concluded that the positional distribution of Ala and Gla is different in Ln/L/L TAGs of blackcurrant seed oil.

Fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium are associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes to two years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) in meconium and neurodevelopment in infants exposed to alcohol in utero at 6.5 months, 1 year, and 2 years of age. STUDY DESIGN: A secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of mothers at high risk and their infants recruited after admission to a labor and delivery unit. Mothers were screened for drug and alcohol use during pregnancy by clinical interview and urine screening. Meconium was analyzed for FAEE in 216 newborn infants. Outcome measures included the Bayley Scales of Infant Development Mental (MDI) and Psychomotor (PDI) Developmental Index scores in infants at 6.5 months, 1 year, and 2 years of age. RESULTS: After controlling for prenatal visits and maternal factors, increasing concentrations of FAEE were significantly associated with poorer mental and psychomotor development (beta +/- standard error) at all follow-up visits: ethyl myristate (MDI -2.46 +/- 1.24, P = .05; PDI -3.88 +/- 1.67, P = .02), ethyl oleate (MDI -1.94 +/- 0.65, P < .01; PDI -2.60 +/- 0.93, P < .01), ethyl linoleate (MDI -1.92 +/- 0.60, P < .01; PDI -2.28 +/- 0.84, P < .01), ethyl linolenate (MDI -1.99 +/- 0.74, P < .01; PDI -2.98 +/- 1.04, P < .01), and ethyl arachidonate (MDI -2.40 +/- 1.11, P = .03; PDI -3.32 +/- 1.51, P = .03). CONCLUSION: FAEE in meconium may be a marker for identifying newborns at risk for neurodevelopmental delay from alcohol exposure in utero.

"Dicranin" in the Membrane Phospholipids of a Dicranaceae and Pottiaceae Moss Member of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot.

The phospholipids of two moss samples Oreoweisia laxifolia (Hookf.) Kindb. (family-Dicranaceae Schimp.) and Leptodontium viticulosoides (P. Beauv.) Wijk & Margad (family-Pottiaceae Schimp.) of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot were investigated to find out any peculiarity in their fatty acid profiles. Detailed analysis of phospholipid classes and the respective fatty acids was performed using high-performance thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. An array of different saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were detected in both the samples. Although it has been proposed previously that acetylenic fatty acids are associated only with triacylglycerol of storage lipids, the most striking observation of the present investigation is the abundance of an acetylenic fatty acid, octadeca-6-yn-9,12,15-trienoic acid (18:4a), or Dicranin, in the phospholipids of both the mosses. The position of the triple bond in the hydrocarbon chain of the fatty acids was confirmed by dimethyloxazoline derivatization of fatty acids and their characteristic mass fragmentation pattern. The occurrence of Dicranin in phospholipids and in the Pottiaceae family is reported for the first time, with substantial explanations of the observed results. This may raise the issue of rethinking "Dicranin" as a chemotaxonomic marker of Dicranaceae.

trans Octadecenoic acid and trans octadecadienoic acid are inversely related to long-chain polyunsaturates in human milk: results of a large birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Several observational studies indicate that trans isomeric fatty acids may interfere with the metabolism of essential fatty acids in the human organism. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate the relation between trans fatty acids and long-chain polyunsaturates in mature human milk. DESIGN: Human milk samples (n=769) were obtained at the 6th week of lactation from mothers participating in a birth cohort study in Germany. The fatty acid composition of the milk samples was measured by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography. RESULTS: trans Octadecenoic and trans octadecadienoic acids were inversely correlated with linoleic acid (r=-0.32 and -0.33, P<0.0001 for both), alpha-linolenic acid (r=-0.35 and -0.27, P<0.0001), arachidonic acid (r=-0.60 and -0.47, P<0.0001), and docosahexaenoic acid (r=-0.51 and -0.33, P<0.0001). In contrast, no inverse correlations were observed between trans hexadecenoic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained in the present study suggest that the availability of 18-carbon trans isomeric fatty acids may be inversely related to the availability of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in mature human milk.