Fatty Acids from the Fruit Oil of Heracleum nipponicum Kitagawa

Abstract

Crude fatty acids, in an approximate yield of 12%, were obtained from the fruit of Heracleum nipponicum Kitagawa. Derivation of the acids to methyl ester and its fractional distillation under 3-mm. pressure gave three fractions, (A), (B), and (C). No acid substance was obtained from (A) fraction. (B) and (C) fractions were respectively separated into solid and liquid acids. As a solid acid, palmitic acid, m.p. 60-61°, was obtained from (B) fraction, and crystals of m.p. 25-28° from (C) fraction. Estimation by the circular paper chromatography and elaidination showed these crystals to be a mixture of petroselic and petroselidic acids. As a liquid acid, 9, 10-dihydroxy- and 9, 10, 12, 13-tetrahydroxystearic acids were obtained as the oxidation product by the Hazula method from (B) and (C) fractions from which the presence of oleic and linolic acids was clarified. Foregoing results have confirmed that the fatty acids constituting the fruit oil of this plant were petroselic, petroselidic, palmitic, oleic, and linolic acids.