Phospholipid Composition of Karanja (Pongamia glabra) Seeds

Abstract

AbstractThe Karanja (Pongamia glabra) seed kernels were extracted with a solvent mixture of chloroform and methanol (2:1, v/v). The extract was dissolved in chloroform and precipitated with acetone. Acetone insolubles (0.78% wt. of the kernels) contained 2.9 percent of phosphorus. Major constituent phospholipids were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol by spraying with characteristic spray reagents on thin‐layer chromatograms (TLC) and by comparing the Rf values with those of standards and literature values. A quantitative TLC method using a colorimetric determination of phosphorus without acid digestion was used for studying the phospholipid composition of the acetone insolubles. The composition was found to be phosphatidylcholine, 43.1%; phosphatidyl‐ethanolamine, 18.8%, phosphatidylinositol, 33.3% and unidentified, 4.8%. The fatty acid composition of the individual phospholipids is also reported.