Phospholipid Profiles of Oleaginous Pressed Cakes Using NMR and Gas Chromatography

A convenient method for the relative and absolute quantification of lipid components in liposomes by 1H- and 31P NMR-spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE

Liposomes are promising delivery systems for pharmaceutical applications and have been used in medicine in the recent past. Preparation of liposomes requires reliable characterization and quantification of the phospholipid components for which the traditional cumbersome molybdate method is used frequently. The objective was to improve relative and absolute quantification of lipid components from liposomes.

METHODS

A reliable method for quantification of lipid composition in liposome formulations in the 1-10 μmol range with 1H- and 31P NMR spectroscopy at 600 MHz has been developed. The method is based on three crystalline small-molecule standards (Ph3PO4, (Tol)3PO4, and Ph3PO) in CDCl3.

RESULTS

Excellent calibration linearity and chemical stability of the standards was observed. The method was tested in blind fashion on liposomes containing POPC, PEG-ceramide and a pH-sensitive trans-aminocyclohexanol-based amphiphile (TACH).1 Relative quantification (percentage of components) as well as determination of absolute lipid amount was possible with excellent reproducibility with an average error of 5%. Quantification (triplicate) was accomplished in 15 min based on 1H NMR and in 1 h based on 31P NMR. Very little change in mixture composition was observed over multiple preparative steps.

CONCLUSION

Liposome preparations containing POPC, POPE, DOPC, DPPC, TACH, and PEG-ceramide can be reliably characterized and quantified by 1H NMR and 31P NMR spectroscopy at 600 MHz in the μmol range.

Hemp Seeds, Flaxseed, and Açaí Berries: Health Benefits and Nutritional Importance with Emphasis on the Lipid Content

Abstract:

Some plant seeds and berries have gained increased recognition due to their wide variety of bioactive compounds. Many of these foods are rich in lipids with high nutritional value, of which n-3 and n-6 essential fatty acids stand out. However, knowledge of the chemical composition and biological activity of these compounds and their value as a source of healthy lipids is far from being fully explored. The benefits of the intake of hemp seeds, flaxseed, and açaí berries, considered functional foods, have been compiled in this review. Likewise, their general chemical composition will be described to evaluate their relevance in a healthy diet, highlighting their lipid components and health lipid indices. The fibres and essential fatty acids of hemp seeds and flaxseed and the antioxidant properties of açaí berries provide them protective roles against several chronic non-communicable diseases and represent significant beneficial effects that add value to these healthy natural products. More research is needed to deepen the knowledge on their lipids’ molecular composition and bioactivity.

Lecithins from Vegetable, Land, and Marine Animal Sources and Their Potential Applications for Cosmetic, Food, and Pharmaceutical Sectors

The aim of this work was to review the reported information about the phospholipid composition of lecithins derived from several natural sources (lipids of plant, animal, and marine origin) and describe their main applications for the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical sectors. This study was carried out using specialized search engines and according to the following inclusion criteria: (i) documents published between 2005 and 2020, (ii) sources of lecithins, (iii) phospholipidic composition of lecithins, and (iv) uses and applications of lecithins. Nevertheless, this work is presented as a narrative review. Results of the review indicated that the most studied source of lecithin is soybean, followed by sunflower and egg yolk. Contrarily, only a few numbers of reports focused on lecithins derived from marine animals despite the relevance of this source in association with an even higher composition of phospholipids than in case of those derived from plant sources. Finally, the main applications of lecithins were found to be related to their nutritional aspects and ability as emulsion stabilizers and lipid component of liposomes.

Intestinal bioavailability of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids influenced by the supramolecular form of phospholipids

This work aims at studying the bioavailability of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids carried by marine phospholipids, formulated in different supramolecular forms,i.e.oil-in-water emulsion and liposomes.

In vitrolipolysis and lymphatic absorption ofn-3 long-chain PUFA in the rat: influence of the molecular lipid species as carrier

The aim of this work was to study the bioavailability of fatty acids (FA), focusing onn-3 long-chain (LC) PUFA, carried by different molecular lipid species, that is, phospholipids (PL) or TAG, with three formulations based on fish oils or marine PL, providing a similarn-3 LC PUFA amount. The digestive lipolysis was first assessed using anin vitroenzymatic model. Then, intestinal absorption and enterocyte metabolism were investigatedin vivo, on male Wistar rats through lymph lipid analysis. Thein vitroresults showed that the release ofn-3 LC PUFA from lipolysis was increased by 48 % when FA were provided as PL rather than TAG. Thein vivoresults demonstrated that EPA and DHA from both TAG and PL were similarly absorbed and incorporated into lymph lipids. However, DHA was mainly distributed at thesn-1/3 positions of lymph TAG when provided as marine PL, whereas it was equally distributed at the three positions with marine TAG. On the whole, even if the molecular lipid species ofn-3 LC PUFA did not greatly modify thein vivodigestion and absorption steps, it modulated the rearrangement of DHA on the glyceride positions of the lymph TAG, which may further impact the DHA metabolic fate and tissue accretion. Consequently, the present study has provided data which may be used to formulate lipid diets rich in DHA in the context of an insufficient consumption ofn-3 PUFA in Western countries.