GC Analysis of Seven Seed Oils Containing Conjugated Fatty Acids

The fatty acid compositions, including isomer compositions, of seven seed oils containing conjugated fatty acids (CFA) were determined. Seed oils were extracted using a modified Folch extraction, converted to fatty acid methyl esters, and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection. The MS detector was operated in positive-ion chemical ionization mode using methane reagent gas. GC was performed using two columns providing different retention characteristics: a poly(ethylene glycol) column and a more polar biscyanopropyl column. The complimentary information provided by the two columns was crucial to peak identification in several cases. The major CFA species in the samples are well known but all contained lesser amounts of additional CFA that have not been widely reported. All samples contained multiple species of conjugated linolenic acid, and two samples also contained small amounts of conjugated linoleic acid. The seed oils of Jacaranda mimosifolia and Calendula officinalis were found to contain 8c,10t,12t-18:3, the natural occurrence of which has only been recently reported in some other samples. The seed oil of Impatiens balsamina has been reported to contain four conjugated 18:4 species, and we present evidence for a fifth conjugated 18:4 isomer.