A modified method for the isolation and quantification of oil seed phospholipids

Abstract

A modified method for the isolation and accurate quantification of oil seed phospholipids is described. Castor bean and sunflower were taken to represent seeds of high neutral lipid and low phospholipid content. Preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel was used for the separation of the phospholid class from the total lipid extract which was prepared by a modified method. An eluant composed of methanol:acetic acid:water, 94:1:5, which gave 95 ± 3% phospholipid recovery was used. The phospholipids were fractionated by one-dimensional TLC and identified by a series of colour reagents as well as by comparison with a natural reference which contained all the known phospholipid fractions and was prepared from rat liver. The fractionated phospholipids on TL chromatographic plates were quantified by phosphorus determination.