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Preparation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) concentrate from Porphyridium cruentum
Author(s) -
Cohen Zvi,
Cohen Simon
Publication year - 1991
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/bf02660301
Subject(s) - eicosapentaenoic acid , polyunsaturated fatty acid , arachidonic acid , chemistry , fish oil , urea , food science , fatty acid , chromatography , fish <actinopterygii> , organic chemistry , biology , fishery , enzyme
The polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has attracted increased attention due to its pharmaceutical properties. The main source is marine fish oil which contains approximately 15% EPA. However, pharmaceutical applications of EPA will probably require higher concentrations, perhaps as high as 90%. The red microalga Porphyridium cruentum is a potential source, because its EPA content approaches 44.1% of the total fatty acids. Three methods were attempted for EPA concentration and arachidonic acid (AA) removal from the oil of this alga. Separation of the glycolipids, formation of a urea inclusion complex and reverse phase chromatography on C‐18 Sep‐Pak filters resulted in an EPA concentrate of 97% purity. Similar methods resulted in an AA concentrate of 80% purity.