Development of a New Highly Efficient HPLC Method for Identification of Triacylglycerol Species in Selected Seed Oils Rich in Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLnA)
Mustafa Topkafa, Hüseyin Kara
S.U. Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Konya, Türkiye
 
Triacylglycerol (TAG) analysis is one of the most important marker use in determining the nature and characteristics of the edible oils. There are several available methods for determination of TAG profiles of ordinary seed oils by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). However, with all of these methods are not suitable for appropriate and good separation for TAGs rich in CLnA. 
Conjugated linolenic acids (CLnA) are mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linolenic acid. Some special edible oils such as pomegranate, tung, and mahaleb seed oils contain these CLnA isomers [1]. Due to cytotoxic effect and biological activities, CLnA are considered to be useful for resistance of many diseases [2]. 
This study focused on the development of new highly efficient method for determination and identification of triacylglycerol species in some selected seed oils such as pomegranate seed, tung seed, mahaleb seed, bitter gourd, pot marigold seed oils. A various parameters such as flow rate and composition of mobile phase were optimized to get better separation for accurate analysis. Seed oil samples were dissolved in acetone and directly injected into ACE 5 C18 column (250 x 4 mm x 5 µm). The mixtures of acetonitrile and acetone in different proportions were used for mobile phase in HPLC analysis and triacylglycerol species were monitored at 215 nm. Besides, the triacylglycerol species were separately collected and injected into the GC-MS for identification of the fatty acids constituting the triacylglycerol species.
In conclusion, the improved method for triacylglycerol profile is thought to be very useful, particularly for the researchers interested in specific types of edible oils.  

KEYWORDS: Conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA), Triacylglycerol, HPLC, Seed oils 

REFERENCE
[1]	Özgül-Yücel Sevil, JAOCS, (2005),  82, 893-897
[2]	Lansky E. P. and Newman R. J. Ethnopharmacol (2007), 109, 177–206