TRIACYLGLYCEROLS OF VERNONIA-GALAMENSIS SEED OIL

Separation methods using silica gel column chromatography and preparat ive thin layer chromatography were employed to prepare pure triacylgly cerol fractions of the oil from Vernonia galamensis seeds. Pure vernol ic acid (12,13-epoxy-octadec-cis-9-enoic acid) vas prepared by enzymat ic hydrolysis of the chromatographically purified major triacylglycero l, trivernolin, using a commercially available immobilised lipase in a non-polar organic solvent. Analysis of the divernoloyl and monovernol oyl triacylglycerols with porcine pancreatic lipase indicated that ver nolic acid is found mainly as the secondary ester in the divernoloyl t riacylglycerol but not the monovernoloyl triacylglycerol. (C) 1998 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.