REEXAMINATION OF THE FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF BIOTA-ORIENTALIS SEED OIL BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY OF THE PICOLINYL ESTER DERIVATIVES

Abstract

Re-examination of the fatty acid composition of Biota orientalis (Platycladus orientalis or Thuja orientalis or Arbor-vitae) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the picolinyl ester derivatives showed the presence of 20:3(5c, 11c, 14c) (4.3%) and 20:3(11c, 14c, 17c) (0.4%), which was not in agreement with the results published previously. The positions of the unsaturated centres in the alkyl chain of the fatty acids were readily determined by examining the mass spectral fragmentation pattern of the picolinyl derivatives.