The genus Thapsia as a source of petroselinic acid

Abstract

We describe the results from the isolation and structural identification of the acylglycerol constituents of fruits from wild plants belonging to different species of Thapsia (Apiaceae). The isolated lipid fractions were analyzed and characterized by chemical, chromatographic, and spectroscopic means. In particular, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance data allowed the identification of petroselinic acid as the major fatty acid esterified to glycerol in the fruit oils from all the plant samples. This was also confirmed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry analyses of fatty acid methyl and butyl esters derivatives from Thapsia oil. The genus Thapsia should be regarded as a useful source for the extraction of petroselinic acid, which represents an important oleochemical raw material.

Fatty‐Acid Composition of Seeds and Chemotaxonomic Evaluation of Sixteen Sapindaceae Species

“…DeWinter,and A. dregeanus (Sond.) De Winter [32],w hich is consistent with the presentr esults. Accordingt oHarrington et al [12], the Thouinieaet ribes hould be expanded to include the Paullinieaetribe.Based on such information, an additional phenogramwas generated, that included only the representatives from the Thouinieae and Paullinieae tribes (datan ot shown).I nt his phenogram, the species of the Thouinieae tribe were also isolated from those of the Paullinieae tribe.Thus,the present results do not support the inclusion of the species of the Paullinieae tribe in the Thouinieaet ribe,p rimarily due to the low eicosenoic acid levels in the species of the Thouinieae tribe ( < 18%), comparedt ot he higher levels ( > 40%) in the Paullinia species.T he oils of the Allophylus speciesalso contained three times moreoleic acid comparedwith those of the species of the Paullinieae tribe ( Table 1).…”

“…Radlk., Filicium decipiens Th wa ites, Matayba guianensis Aubl., Paullinia pinnata L., P. trigonia Vell., P. racemosaWawra, Serjania caracasana Willd., S. paucidentata DC., S. salzmanniana Schltdl., and Talisia esculenta Radlk.w ere reported for the first time herein. Thef atty-acid compositions were consistent with previous studies that reported long-chain fatty acids in Sapindaceae,n otably eicosenoic, arachidic,a nd oleica cids [21] [23] [32] [33].…”

Fatty acids and tocochromanol patterns of some Turkish Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) plants; a chemotaxonomic approach

“…This also takes special interest for oleochemical raw material. The genus Thapsia should be regarded as a useful source for petroselinic acid, which represents an important oleochemical raw material (Avato et al, 2001). The results obtained from this study are very important to show chemotaxonomical relationships among the fatty acid and tocochromanol profiles in genera of the Apiaceae and indicate renewable resources in plants.…”

“…Prangos, Ferulago and Heracleum are some of the largest genera, embracing nearly 11, 30 and 17 species in Apiaceae, respectively in Turkey flora (Davis, 1972(Davis, , 1988Güner et al, 2000). The genera of Apiaceae should be regarded as a useful source for the extraction of petroselinic acid, which represents an important oleochemical raw material (Avato et al, 2001). Some of these plants, for example Coriandrum spp, have been used in plant breeding as a renewable resource (Ivanov & Aitzetmüller, 1995).…”

Variations in fatty acid composition during maturation of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seeds

“…Recently, researchers have reported that seeds of some some Apiaceae genera should be regarded as a useful source for the extraction of petroselinic acid, which represents an important oleochemical raw material (Avato et al, 2001). For example, this acid can be used as a precursor of both lauric acid, which is a component of detergents and surfactants, and adipic acid, which is the monomeric component of nylon 66 (Murphy et al, 1994;Murphy, 1996).…”