Detection of radiation-induced hydrocarbons and 2-alkylcyclobutanones in irradiated perilla seeds

The method consists of the extraction of fat from perilla seeds, separation of hydrocarbons and 2-alkylcyclobutanones with florisil column chromatogra phy, and identification of hydrocarbons and 2-alkylcyclobutanones by gas ch romatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), Concentrations of hydrocarbons and 2-alkylcyclobutanones increased with the irradiation dose. The major hydroc arbons in the irradiated perilla seeds were 8-heptadecene and 1,7-hexadecad iene from oleic acid and 6,9-heptadecadiene and 1,7,10-hexadecatriene from linoleic acid. One of the 2-alkylcyclobutanones, 2-(5'-tetradecenyl)cyclobu tanone, was found in the highest concentration in the irradiated perilla se eds. Radiation-induced hydrocarbons in the perilla seeds were detected at d oses of 0.5 kGy and higher, and radiation-induced 2-alkylcyclobutanones wer e detected at doses of 1 kGy and higher. These compounds were not detected in nonirradiated perilla seeds.