PHOSPHOLIPID-COMPOSITION OF KARANJA (PONGAMIA-GLABRA) SEEDS

Abstract

The Karanja (Pongamia glabra) seed kernels were extracted with a solvent mixture of chloroform and methanol (2:1, v/v). The extract was dissolved in chloroform and precipitated with acetone. Acetone insolubles (0.78% wt. of the kernels) contained 2.9 percent of phosphorus. Major constituent phospholipids were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol by spraying with characteristic spray reagents on thin-layer chromatograms (TLC) and by comparing the Rf values with those of standards and literature values. A quantitative TLC method using a colorimetric determination of phosphorus without acid digestion was used for studying the phospholipid composition of the acetone insolubles. The composition was found to be phosphatidylcholine, 43.1%; phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, 18.8%, phosphatidylinositol, 33.3% and unidentified, 4.8%. The fatty acid composition of the individual phospholipids is also reported.