Study on the encapsulation technique of high purity gamma-linolenic acid, part 1--saponification reaction and saponification value / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure the saponification value and fatty acid formation of evening primrose oil, to study the effects of pH value on production yield and fatty acid formation during the saponification reaction, and to provide rationales for the selection of raw material, the enhancement of production yield of saponification, and the encapsulation of gamma-linolenic acid with urea.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>To measure fatty acid's formation with gas chromatographic method and to measure the saponification value.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The content of gamma-linolenic acid is 7%-10% in evening primrose oil. The content of gamma-linolenic acid is inversely correlated with that of unsaturated fatty acid. The saponification value, the amount of KOH for saponification of evening primrose oil, and the pH value for subsequent isolations of oils are determined. From the measurement of fatty acids of evening primrose oil in two different cultivation locations, the content of gamma-linolenic acid is determined to be 7%-10%, unsaturated oils account for 90%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The saponification value of evening primrose oil is between 180-200, pH value of isolated oil is 1.5-2.0 after saponification reaction. Fatty acids mainly include palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linolic acid and gamma-linolenic acid.</p>

Study on the encapsulation technique of high purity gamma-linolenic acid, part 1--Single factor, and two-factor tests for encapsulation process / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of all factors during the process of urea encapsulation of gamma-linolenic acid on the purity and yield.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>To observe the material proportions, time, temperature and purity using single-factor and two-factor tests.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Single-factor test showed that the optimal ratio of all materials (oil, urea and 95% ethanol) was 1:3:8. A 30% purity after single encapsulation process was obtained, at the best temperature range was - 15 degrees C-20 degrees C, for 24 hours. Two-factor test showed that the optimal ratio of oil, urea and ethanol was 1:3:8, where the concentration of ethanol was 90%-95%. The purity reached 90% or higher, with three-time encapsulation process.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>An optimized process was identified where material ratios, encapsulation time, temperature, and ethanol concentrations were determined using single-factor and two-factor tests.</p>