Premium
Enzymatic modification of evening primrose oil: Incorporation of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Author(s) -
Akoh Casimir C.,
Jennings Brenda H.,
Lillard Dorris A.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02523416
Subject(s) - evening primrose oil , evening primrose , polyunsaturated fatty acid , eicosapentaenoic acid , chemistry , transesterification , fatty acid , glycerol , lipase , food science , organic chemistry , chromatography , enzyme , methanol
Immobilized lipase SP435 from Candida antaractica was used as a biocatalyst for the modification of the fatty acid composition of evening primrose oil by incorporating n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Transesterification (ester‐ester interchange) was conducted in organic solvent or without solvent, with EPA ethyl ester (EEPA) as the acyl donor. Products were analyzed by gas‐liquid chromatography (GLC). After 24‐h incubation in hexane, the fatty acid composition of evening primrose oil was markedly changed to contain up to 43% EPA. The amount of 18:2n−6 PUFA was reduced by 32%, and the saturated fatty acid content was also reduced. The effects of incubation time, molar ratio, enzyme load, and reaction medium on mol% EPA incorporation were also studied. Generally, as the incubation time (up to 24 h), molar ratio, and enzyme load increased, EPA incorporation also increased. Evening primrose oil, containing EPA and γ‐linolenic acid (18:3n−6) in the same glycerol backbone, was successfully produced and may be more beneficial for certain applications than unmodified oil.