Characterization of fatty acids in the fatty glycerides and free fatty acids from Nelumbo Nucifera (lotus) seeds ethanol extract

초록

The lotus seeds are widely used as medicines and edible vegetables in Korea. However, there were few reports about fatty acids in the lotus seeds. The purpose of this study was to investigate both the quality and quantity characterization of fatty acids in the fatty glycerides and free fatty acids from ethanol extract of lotus seeds. The Siheung raw lotus seeds were extracted with ethanol and then this ethanol extract was extracted with hexane. The quality and quantity of fatty acids in the fatty glycerides and free fatty acids were determined by TLC, NMR, and GC-MS in the form of methyl or trimethysilyl ester derivative. The lotus seed oil contained fatty acid mostly as triglycerides, but some of triglycerides were broken down into mono- and diglycerides and free fatty acids during ethanol extraction. Diglycerides, monoglycerides, and free fatty acids were identified using TLC, NMR, and GC-MS. The main fatty acids in the fatty glycerides were oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and stearic acid. Palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, and lignoceric acid were mainly contents of free fatty acids in lotus seed oil.