THE DISTRIBUTION OF DIHYDROSITOSTEROL IN PLANT FATS

R.J Anderson,Fred P Nabenhauer,R.L Shriner

doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(18)84423-4

Abstract

In previous reports from this laboratory it has been shown that a saturated sterol, dihydrositosterol, C27H47OH, is a constituent of the unsaponifiable matter obtained from the bran and endosperm of corn1 and wheat.2 The present communication supplies some additional information on the method of isolation, its occurrence in other plant fats, and properties.For the isolation of this saturated sterol the method of Anderson and Nabenhauer3 has been utilized with certain modifications which result in an increased yield of dihydrositosterol. The most important change, in the method already described, is acetylation of the sterol mixture before treating its carbon tetrachloride solution with acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid. This treatment with acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid is repeated until the carbon tetrachloride layer is colorless and no green color is developed by the addition of a fresh portion of acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid. This acetylation prevents the formation of sterol sulfates or sulf...

Highlights

It has been shown in previous reports from this laboratory that the fat extracted from the endosperm and bran of corn (1) and wheat (2) contained a saturated sterol, dihydrositosterol, C&H470H, in addition to unsaturated sterols
The unsaponifiable matter obtained from the fat extracted from cottonseed meal and linseed meal has been examined for dihydrositosterol
It occurs in association with unsaturated sterols, in the endosperm and bran of corn and wheat, and in the oils obtained from the germ of these grains

Summary

Introduction

It has been shown in previous reports from this laboratory that the fat extracted from the endosperm and bran of corn (1) and wheat (2) contained a saturated sterol, dihydrositosterol, C&H470H, in addition to unsaturated sterols. Since earlier investigations have shown that wheat endosperm and wheat bran contain relatively large quantities of dihydrositosterol, one might with reasonable certainty predict the presence of a small amount of this sterol in the unsaponifiable matter derived from the wheat germ described above. Of crude crystalline wheat germ sterols, obtained as by product in their preparation of vitamin E (12) were examined.

Results

Conclusion