Highly optically active triglycerides of Sebastiana ligustrina and related species

Abstract

The highly optically active triglycerides (OAT) of the seed oil of Sebastiana ligustrina were isolated and characterized. As with the similar known triglycerides from Sapium sebiferum, the optically active 8-hydroxy-5,6-octadienoic acid is esterified to glycerol and to 2,4-decadienoic acid. The other two acyl moieties in the triglycerides of both these species are common fatty acids, principally 16:0, 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 which occur in pairs ranging in degree of unsaturation from 16:0, 18:1 to 18:3, 18:3. Analyses of lipids of parts of the related species Stillingia sylvatica and S. texana revealed no allene or carbonyl conjugation, and thus by implication no OAT. A substance having IR absorptions characteristic of allenes and carbonyl conjugated dienes, but different from OAT, was found in the stems of S. texana. The seeds of S. sebiferum are known to contain OAT, but it was not found in fresh leaves. © 1972.