Steryl Esters Research Articles

Extractives in bark of different conifer species growing in Pakistan

AbstractThe amount and composition of lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives, including proanthocyanidins, has been analysed as a first screening in the bark of six Pakistani coniferous tree species, namelyPinus wallichiana,Pinus roxburghii,Pinus gerardiana,Abies pindrow,Taxus fuanaandCedrus deodara. The predominant lipophilic extractives were common fatty and resin acids, fatty alcohols and sterols. In all bark samples, short-chain fatty acids were more abundant than long-chain fatty acids. Generally, the amount of free fatty acids was also larger than the amount of triglycerides. Oleic acid was the most common fatty acid, except inC. deodara, where lignoceric acid dominated. The largest amounts of fatty acids and fatty alcohols were found inP. wallichianaandP. gerardiana.P. gerardianacontained an exceptionally large amount of resin acids, approximately 3% of the bark weight, compared to the other species. The amount of free sterols was approximately at the same level or larger than the amount of steryl esters in most samples. In addition to proanthocyanidins, different known lignans, stilbenes, ferulates and flavonoids were generally predominant amongst the hydrophilic extractives. Resveratrol glycoside was abundant inP. wallichiana, whileC. deodaraandP. gerardianacontained large amounts of lignans and lignan derivatives. All bark extracts contained large amounts of proanthocyanidin-related catechin and its derivatives. Furthermore,C. deodaraandP. roxburghiicontained quite large amounts of taxifolin. In particular,P. wallichianaandA. pindroware potential rich sources of proanthocyanidins, representing approximately 16% and 5% of the bark weight, respectively.

Oil Bodies and Oleosins in Physcomitrella Possess Characteristics Representative of Early Trends in Evolution

Searches of sequenced genomes of diverse organisms revealed that the moss Physcomitrella patens is the most primitive organism possessing oleosin genes. Microscopy examination of Physcomitrella revealed that oil bodies (OBs) were abundant in the photosynthetic vegetative gametophyte and the reproductive spore. Chromatography illustrated the neutral lipids in OBs isolated from the gametophyte to be largely steryl esters and triacylglycerols, and SDS-PAGE showed the major proteins to be oleosins. Reverse transcription-PCR revealed the expression of all three oleosin genes to be tissue specific. This tissue specificity was greatly altered via alternative splicing, a control mechanism of oleosin gene expression unknown in higher plants. During the production of sex organs at the tips of gametophyte branches, the number of OBs in the top gametophyte tissue decreased concomitant with increases in the number of peroxisomes and level of transcripts encoding the glyoxylate cycle enzymes; thus, the OBs are food reserves for gluconeogenesis. In spores during germination, peroxisomes adjacent to OBs, along with transcripts encoding the glyoxylate cycle enzymes, appeared; thus, the spore OBs are food reserves for gluconeogenesis and equivalent to seed OBs. The one-cell-layer gametophyte could be observed easily with confocal microscopy for the subcellular OBs and other structures. Transient expression of various gene constructs transformed into gametophyte cells revealed that all OBs were linked to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), that oleosins were synthesized in extended regions of the ER, and that two different oleosins were colocated in all OBs.

Separation of Nonpolar Lipid from Soybean Oil Deodorizer Distillate by Stirred Batch-Wise Silica Gel Adsorption-Desorption

In this study, the stirred batch-wise adsorption-desorption was employed to separate soybean oil deodorizer distillate (SODD) into a nonpolar lipid fraction (NPLF) and a polar lipid fraction (PLF). Starting with SODD that contains 4.35% fatty acid steryl esters (FASEs), 1.92% squalene, 13.19% tocopherols, and 9.22% free phytosterols, it was possible to obtain NPLF enriched with FASEs (19.5%, recovery 96.93%) and squalene (9.15%, recovery 100%). The contents of FFAs, TAGs, tocopherols, and free phytosterols remained in the NPLF were 11.59%, 1.36%, 4.83%, and 1.45%, respectively. The batch extraction employed in this study yielded about the same degree of separation as compared to that of modified soxhlet extraction. However, the advantage of the method of this study is that it can be scaled-up easily.

Regiospecific distribution of fatty acids in triacylglycerols and phospholipids from broad beans (Vicia faba)

AbstractRegiospecific distributions of fatty acids of triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) separated from broad beans (Vicia faba) of four cultivars (Minpo, Sanuki, Nintoku and Sanren) were investigated. The major lipid components were PL (47.5–50.5 wt‐%) and TAG (47.7–50.1 wt‐%), while steryl esters, hydrocarbons, free fatty acids, diacylglycerols and monoacylglycerols were present in minor proportions (1.6–2.4 wt‐%). The PL components isolated from the four cultivars were phosphatidylcholine (56.4–58.4 wt‐%), phosphatidylethanolamine (20.3–21.7 wt‐%) and phosphatidylinositol (16.6–18.6 wt‐%). Phosphatidylinositol was unique in that it had the highest saturated fatty acid content among these PL. The principal characteristics of the fatty acid distribution in the TAG and PL were evident in the beans: Unsaturated fatty acids were predominantly concentrated in the sn‐2 position while saturated fatty acids primarily occupied the sn‐1 or sn‐3 position in these lipids. The lipid components and fatty acid distributions were almost the same in the four cultivars and were not influenced by genetic variability and planting location. These results could be useful information to both consumers and producers for the manufacture of traditional broad bean foods in Japan.

Overexpression of Human 15( S )-Lipoxygenase-1 in RAW Macrophages Leads to Increased Cholesterol Mobilization and Reverse Cholesterol Transport

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LO-1) on cholesterol mobilization from macrophages. Overexpression of human 15-LO-1 in RAW mouse macrophages led to enhanced cholesterol efflux, increased cholesteryl ester (CE) hydrolysis, and increased reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Efflux studies comparing 15-LO-1 overexpressing cells to mock-transfected RAW macrophages resulted in a 3- to 7-fold increase in cholesterol efflux to apolipoprotein A-I and a modest increase in efflux to HDL. Additional experiments revealed an increase in mRNA and protein levels of ABCA1 and ABCG1 in the RAW expressing 15-LO-1 compared to controls. Efforts to examine whether the arachidonic acid metabolite of 15-LO-1, (15S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), was responsible for the enhanced efflux revealed this eicosanoid metabolite did not play a role. Enhanced steryl ester hydrolysis was observed in 15-LO-1 overexpressing cells suggesting that the CE produced in the 15-LO-1 expressing cells was readily mobilized. To measure RCT, RAW macrophages overexpressing 15-LO-1 or mock-transfected cells were cholesterol enriched by exposure to acetylated low-density lipoprotein and [(3)H]-cholesterol. These macrophages were injected into wild-type animals and RCT was measured as a percent of injected dose of (3)H appearing in the feces at 48 hours. We found 7% of the injected (3)H in the feces of mice that received macrophages overexpressing 15-LO-1 and 4% in the feces of mice that received mock-transfected cells. These data are consistent with a model in which overexpression of human 15-LO-1 in RAW macrophages promotes RCT through increased CE hydrolysis and ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux.

Effect of bio-treatment on the lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives of wheat straw

Wheat straw, an important papermaking raw material in China, was treated with a white-rot fungus of Phanerochaete chrysosporium ME446, and the lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives from the control and bio-treated samples were analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Bio-treatment of wheat straw could alter the chemical composition of both the lipophylic and hydrophilic extractives. Sugars and phenolic substances such as coniferyl alcohol, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, 1-guaiacylglycerol and ferulic acid were substantially degraded or consumed by the fungus. More lipophilic substances such as wax, glycerides and steryl esters were degraded into the corresponding components, resulting in much higher concentrations of fatty acids and sterols in the bio-treated samples. Obviously, the bio-treatment of wheat straw was of benefit to pitch control in pulping and papermaking processes, in the view of degradation of the more lipophilic substances. In addition, the bio-treatment could increase the lignin concentration in hot-water extractives of wheat straw.

Photosynthetic pigments in sediment core HDP-04 from Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia, and their implication for changes in algal productivity and lake environment for the last 1 Ma

We analyzed photosynthetic pigments of algae and phototrophic bacteria in the 81-m sediment core (HDP-04) of Lake Hovsgol, NW Mongolia, to reconstruct the changes in algal assemblage and lake environment for the last 1 Ma. In HDP-04, pheophytin a, pyropheophytin a, and steryl esters of pyropheophorbide a (steryl chlorin esters: SCEs- a) were detected as major chlorophyll a derivatives. They indicate that algal productivity fluctuated in response to changes in lacustrine environment, presumably in response to climatic changes. Significant concentrations of intact carotenoids, zexanthin, lutein, and β,β-carotene, as well as cis-isomers of zeaxanthin, diatoxanthin, alloxanthin, and β,β-carotene were found to be preserved in the sediments as old as 1 Ma. The relative concentration of these algal carotenoids showed changes in algal assemblage for the last 1 Ma. Besides algal pigments, bacteriochlorophylls e and isorenieratene, characterstic to brown- Chlorobium were detected transiently only at the sediment depth of 19–21 m, providing evidence for the development of anoxia in photic zone because brown- Chlorobium requires hydrogen sulfide as an electron donor in their photosynthesis. The sediment layers between 21 and 52 m where concentrations of algal carotenoids are higher than those of chlorophyll derivatives may correspond to the periods with shallower lake-water level because increased accumulation of algal carotenoids in surface sediments needs short transport pathway in the water column to evade abiotic/biotic oxidation during transportation.

Phytoplankton assemblage in the Plio-Pleistocene record of Lake Baikal as indicated by sedimentary steryl chlorin esters

Past changes in phytoplankton assemblages in Lake Baikal over the last 4.5 Ma, both in population and composition, are inferred from the downcore profiles of the relatively stable chlorophyll derivatives steryl esters of pyropheophorbides a and b (steryl chlorine esters; SCEs) in the 0–200 m section of the BDP-98 drill core, supplemented by the data on biogenic silica (BSi) and total organic carbon (TOC) contents. SCEs- a and - b dominate among sedimentary chlorophyll derivatives in the BDP-98 sediments except for the upper few meters, indicating their high stability during diagenetic alteration of sediments. The depth (age) profiles of SCEs- a are consistent with BSi and TOC profiles and are interpreted as reflecting primary productivity of the lake in the past. Baikal proxies reveal close correlation with marine oxygen isotope records (MIS stratigraphy). These observations confirm that climate change in the northern hemisphere has been a primary factor controlling the total phytoplankton productivity in Lake Baikal during the last several million years. Among SCEs- a, C 30 (dinostanol)-SCE- a, a marker of dinoflagellates was identified by GC–MS analysis. SCE- b, a marker of green algae, was identified by its UV–vis spectrum. The ratio of C 30-SCE- a to total SCEs- a (TSCEs- a) was higher during 4.5–4.2 and 1.7–1.3 Ma, suggesting that dinoflagellates proliferated preferentially in those periods. The early Pleistocene maximum of this ratio corresponds to the broad minimum of diatom abundance previously suggested to have recorded a prolonged regional cooling. An abrupt increase in the SCE- b/TSCEs- a ratio was observed at 2.5–2.6 Ma, indicating that green algae containing chlorophyll b have proliferated in Lake Baikal during this period. This interval has also been suggested to contain evidence for a significant regional cooling based on minima of diatom abundance and BSi in sediments. The depth profile of C 27Δ 5 (cholesterol)-SCE- a relative to TSCEs- a showed a trend similar to that of BSi, suggesting that C 27Δ 5-SCE- a/TSCEs- a ratio is a potential marker of diatoms in Lake Baikal. Certain mismatches between the Lake Baikal profiles of biological indicators and the marine oxygen isotope records, as well as the slight temporal offsets between different Lake Baikal biological marker signals suggest that the regional component of climatic and/or lacustrine environmental changes also have played a role in determining the composition of the Lake Baikal Plio-Pleistocene phytoplankton assemblage.

Heterologous expression of AtClo1, a plant oil body protein, induces lipid accumulation in yeast

Proteomic approaches on lipid bodies have led to the identification of proteins associated with this compartment, showing that, rather than the inert fat depot, lipid droplets appear as complex dynamic organelles with roles in metabolism control and cell signaling. We focused our investigations on caleosin [Arabidopsis thaliana caleosin 1 (AtClo1)], a minor protein of the Arabidopsis thaliana seed lipid body. AtClo1 shares an original triblock structure, which confers to the protein the capacity to insert at the lipid body surface. In addition, AtClo1 possesses a calcium-binding domain. The study of plants deficient in caleosin revealed its involvement in storage lipid degradation during seed germination. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a heterologous expression system, we investigated the potential role of AtClo1 in lipid body biogenesis and filling. The green fluorescent protein-tagged protein was correctly targeted to lipid bodies. We observed an increase in the number and size of lipid bodies. Moreover, transformed yeasts accumulated more fatty acids (+46.6%). We confirmed that this excess of fatty acids was due to overaccumulation of lipid body neutral lipids, triacylglycerols and steryl esters. We showed that the original intrinsic properties of AtClo1 protein were sufficient to generate a functional lipid body membrane and to promote overaccumulation of storage lipids in yeast oil bodies.

Characteristics of lipid components, fatty acid distributions and triacylglycerol molecular species of adzuki beans (Vigna angularis)

Abstract Fatty acid (FA) distributions and molecular species of triacylglycerols (TAG) isolated from total lipids extracted from adzuki beans ( Vigna angularis ) were analysed by a combination of AgNO 3 -TLC and GC, and were investigated in relation to the content of endogenous antioxidants determined by HPLC. δ-Tocopherol was present in the highest concentration (30.5 mg/kg beans), and γ-tocopherol in small amounts (12.8 mg/kg beans). The major lipid components were phospholipids (74.3%), TAG (13.5%), hydrocarbons (4.6%) and steryl esters (4.0%), whilst other components were also present in minor proportions (0.5–1.3%). Seventeen different molecular species were detected. The major TAG components were SMD (5.0%), S 2 T (19.2%), SD 2 (13.7%), SMT (9.3%), MD 2 (4.5%), SDT (7.0%), D 3 (8.8%) and ST 2 (15.8%) (where S, M, D, and T denote a saturated FA, a monoene, a diene, and triene, respectively). These results would be useful to both consumers and producers for manufacture of traditional adzuki foods in Japan.

Mobilization of steryl esters from lipid particles of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the yeast as in other eukaryotes, formation and hydrolysis of steryl esters (SE) are processes linked to lipid storage. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the three SE hydrolases Tgl1p, Yeh1p and Yeh2p contribute to SE mobilization from their site of storage, the lipid particles/droplets. Here, we provide evidence for enzymatic and cellular properties of these three hydrolytic enzymes. Using the respective single, double and triple deletion mutants and strains overexpressing the three enzymes, we demonstrate that each SE hydrolase exhibits certain substrate specificity. Interestingly, disturbance in SE mobilization also affects sterol biosynthesis in a type of feedback regulation. Sterol intermediates stored in SE and set free by SE hydrolases are recycled to the sterol biosynthetic pathway and converted to the final product, ergosterol. This recycling implies that the vast majority of sterol precursors are transported from lipid particles to the endoplasmic reticulum, where sterol biosynthesis is completed. Ergosterol formed through this route is then supplied to its subcellular destinations, especially the plasma membrane. Only a minor amount of sterol precursors are randomly distributed within the cell after cleavage from SE. Conclusively, SE storage and mobilization although being dispensable for yeast viability contribute markedly to sterol homeostasis and distribution.

Stepwise Esterification of Phytosterols with Conjugated Linoleic Acid Catalyzed by Candida rugosa Lipase in Solvent-free Medium

We conducted a near quantitative esterification of phytosterols from soybean oil deodorizer distillate with conjugated linoleic acid. We used a 1:1 molar ratio of sterols to conjugated linoleic acid. For that matter, stepwise addition of sterols was investigated. Total sterols were divided into several portions and added sequentially to the reaction mixture. Using this methodology, purities of up to 80% steryl esters were obtained that consumed more than 90% of the total conjugated linoleic acid. In addition, the effects of temperature, amount, and stability of lipase were also evaluated.

Lipophilic Extracts from Banana Fruit Residues: A Source of Valuable Phytosterols

The chemical composition of the lipophilic extracts of unripe pulp and peel of banana fruit 'Dwarf Cavendish' was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fatty acids, sterols, and steryl esters are the major families of lipophilic components present in banana tissues, followed by diacylglycerols, steryl glucosides, long chain fatty alcohols, and aromatic compounds. Fatty acids are more abundant in the banana pulp (29-90% of the total amount of lipophilic extract), with linoleic, linolenic, and oleic acids as the major compounds of this family. In banana peel, sterols represent about 49-71% of the lipophilic extract with two triterpenic ketones (31-norcyclolaudenone and cycloeucalenone) as the major components. The detection of high amounts of steryl esters (469-24405 mg/kg) and diacylglycerols (119-878 mg/kg), mainly present in the banana peel extract, explains the increase in the abundance of fatty acids and sterols after alkaline hydrolysis. Several steryl glucosides were also found in significative amounts (273-888 mg/kg), particularly in banana pulp (888 mg/kg). The high content of sterols (and their derivatives) in the 'Dwarf Cavendish' fruit can open new strategies for the valorization of the banana residues as a potential source of high-value phytochemicals with nutraceutical and functional food additive applications.

Isolation and Purification of Fatty Acid Steryl Esters from Soybean Oil Deodorizer Distillate

Depending on the source, deodorizer distillates usually have significantly different characteristics, uses, and value. Soybean oil deodorizer distillate (SODD) has been suggested as an alternative to marine animals as a natural source of squalene and a good raw material for the production of fatty acid steryl esters (FASEs), tocopherols, free phytosterols and fatty acids. The purpose of this work was to isolate and purify natural FASEs from SODD by a suitable method without degradation of the FASEs. Modified Soxhlet extraction, modified silica gel column chromatography, and binary solvent extraction were employed sequentially in this study to obtain FASEs from SODD. FASEs with a purity of 86.74% and a total recovery of 85.32% could be obtained in the final product.

Design and operation of a modified silica gel column chromatography

Liquid–solid chromatography (LSC) is the oldest of the various liquid chromatography methods. Despite the fact that high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) operation leads to better separation and analysis, classical column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) are still widely practiced because of their convenience. In this study, a modified silica gel column chromatography was designed with the objective of reducing the amount of solvent required to achieve the same degree of separation as the classical silica gel column chromatography. The separation of squalene and fatty acid steryl esters (FASEs) from non-polar lipid fraction (NPLF) of soybean oil deodorizer distillate (SODD) was employed as a model system to test the effectiveness of this new design. Modified silica gel column chromatography process is feasible from economic point of view compare to classical silica gel column chromatography because it significantly reduces the amount of solvent and time required to achieve the same degree of separation. By employing modified silica gel column chromatography to obtain the squalene-rich fraction, the mobile phase volume and elution time required as fractions of those needed in classical silica gel column chromatography are 1/73 and 1/18, respectively. To obtain the FASEs-rich fraction, the corresponding mobile phase volume and elution time are 1/221 and 1/23, respectively of those needed in classical silica gel column chromatography.

LIPID CLASSES, FATTY ACID COMPOSITIONS AND TRIACYLGLYCEROL MOLECULAR SPECIES FROM ADZUKI BEANS (VIGNA ANGULARIS)

ABSTRACT The lipids extracted from adzuki beans grown in Japan were classified by thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) into eight fractions. Molecular species and fatty acid distributions of triacylglycerols (TAGs) isolated from the total lipids in the beans were determined from a combination of argentation‐TLC and gas chromatography. The major lipid components were phospholipids (PL; 63.5%) and TAG (21.2%), while hydrocarbons (5.1%), steryl esters (7.5%), free fatty acids (0.9%), diacylglycerols (1.3%) and monoacylglycerols (0.5%) were also present in minor proportions. Both major samples had high amounts of total unsaturated fatty acids, representing 62.1% for TAG and 65.9% for PL. Seventeen different molecular species were detected. The major TAG components were SMD (5.0%), S2T (19.3%), SD2 (13.8%), SMT (9.3%), MD2 (4.5%), SDT (7.0%), D3 (8.8%) and ST2 (15.9%), where S, M, D and T denote a saturated fatty acid, a monoene, a diene and a triene, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThis article describes the characteristics of lipid components, fatty acid compositions as well as the profiles of triacylglycerol (TAG) molecular species of adzuki beans. α‐Linolenic (18:3n‐3) acid was detected as 24.8, 21.2 and 15.2% in the TAG, total lipids and phospholipids, respectively. The oil from legumes, except the profitable fatty acid content, could be a potential source of tocopherols. The data obtained in this study would be useful to both consumers and producers for manufacturing traditional adzuki confectionaries (wagashi) in Japan and elsewhere.

Isolation of oryzanol from crude rice bran oil

The isolation of oryzanol from crude rice bran oil (RBO) was achieved by a two-step crystallization process. In the first crystallization, oryzanol was concentrated in the liquid phase along with free fatty acid (FFA), monoacylglycerol (MG), squalene, tocols, and phytosterols, whereas the solid phase contained mainly triacylglycerol (TG) and steryl esters. Oryzanol-rich product obtained from the first crystallization was subjected to the second crystallization where the oryzanol-rich product was kept at room temperature (20.5 ± 1.5 °C) for 24 h. Hexane was added as anti-solvent to the oryzanol-rich product and kept at 5 ± 1 °C for another 48 h. Parameters that affect the isolation of oryzanol from crude RBO were systematically investigated. Under optimal operation conditions, oryzanol with purity and recovery of 93-95% and 59%, respectively, was obtained from RBO with an initial FFA content of ca . 5%.

Fatty acid distribution in triacylglycerols and phospholipids of broad beans ( Vicia faba)

Fatty acid distribution of triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) obtained from the four cultivars of broad beans ( Vicia faba) was investigated. Total lipids extracted from the beans were separated by thin-layer chromatography into eight fractions. The major lipid components were TAG (47.7–50.1%) and PL (47.5–50.5%), while hydrocarbons, steryl esters, free fatty acids, diacylglycerols (1,3-DAG and 1,2-DAG) and monoacylglycerols were present in minor proportions (1.8–2.4%). The major PL components were phosphatidylcholine (56.4–58.4%), phosphatidylethanolamine (20.3–21.7%) and phosphatidylinositol (16.6–18.6%). Phosphatidylinositol was unique in that it had the highest saturated fatty acid content among the three PL. No significant differences ( P > 0.05) in fatty acid distribution existed when the different cultivars were compared. The fatty acid distributions in the TAG were evident among the four cultivars: unsaturated fatty acids were predominantly concentrated in the sn−2 position, and saturated fatty acids primarily occupied the sn−1 or sn−3 position in the oils. These results could be useful to both consumers and producers for manufacture of traditional foods in Japan and elsewhere.

Characterization and Quantification of the Neutral Lipids in the Lizard Uta stansburiana stansburiana by HPTLC-Densitometry

We performed high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) to characterize and quantify the various neutral lipid classes in organs (livers, abdominal fat bodies, and tails) of 6 male and 6 female northern side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana stansburiana) with a range of body sizes (from young-of-the-year to adult). We determined the percentage of each organ that was comprised of free sterols, free fatty acids, triacylglycerols, methyl esters, and steryl esters. Regardless of lizard sex or body size, the greatest concentrations of neutral lipids in all organs examined were triacylglycerols. Statistical analyses revealed that the organs of females contained roughly twice the percentage of triacylglycerols compared to males. No other neutral lipid amounts were significantly different between the sexes. We detected only one significant relationship based on size: larger lizards contained more steryl esters in their livers than smaller lizards. Our results are consistent with previous studies showing that females contain more energy reserves (particularly triacylglycerols) than males. This is the first report of the use of TLC or HPTLC with densitometry to analyze any type of analytes in lizard samples.

Chemical Composition of Greek Avgotaracho Prepared from Mullet (Mugil cephalus): Nutritional and Health Benefits

Crude composition, lipid composition, and tocopherols, ascorbic acid, cholesterol, phytosterols, and squalene content together with fatty acids and antiplatelet activities of total, neutral, and polar lipids of avgotaracho (wax-covered, dried, and salted Mugil cephalus roe) were studied and compared with those of similar products. Wax and steryl esters accounted for 63.7% of roe lipids followed by phosphatidylcholine (PC), which comprised 20.3%. Wax esters were rich in saturated fatty alcohols, monounsaturated fatty acids, and long chain omega3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). The fatty acid distribution in roe total and neutral lipids was similar to that of wax esters, while in polar lipids, the omega3 HUFA predominated. Avgotaracho provides significant amounts of protein, fat, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and PC, certain amounts of squalene and phytosterols, and cholesterol at levels comparable to hens' eggs. Total, polar, and neutral lipids of avgotaracho exhibited a strong inhibition of platelet activating factors and thrombin, with polar lipids being more active. The results obtained indicate that avgotaracho is a food of high nutritive value, rich in protein and lipids with a healthy lipid profile in terms of omega3/omega6 ratio and major fatty acid classes, while the antiplatelet activity of its oil indicates a putative antithrombotic potential.