ENRICHMENT OF GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID FROM EVENING PRIMROSE OIL AND BORAGE OIL VIA LIPASE-CATALYZED HYDROLYSIS

Lipase-catalyzed selective partial hydrolysis of evening primrose (Oen othera biennis L.) seed oil and borage (Borago officinalis L.) seed oi l led to an increase in the level of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA; 18:3n- 6) in the unhydrolyzed acylglycerols. Thus, in evening primrose oil, t he GLA level could be raised from 9.4% in the starting material to 46. 5% in the unhydrolyzed acylglycerols by means of a lipase from Candida cylindracea. Selective hydrolysis of borage oil with Pancreatin led t o an increase in the C;LA content from 20.4% in the oil to 33.5% in th e unhydrolyzed acylglycerols. Partial hydrolysis of borage oil with li pase from C. cylindracea raised the GLA content of the acylglycerols t o 47.8%.