Fatty acid composition of wild mushroom species of order Agaricales--examination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and chemometrics.

Applying gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of 4,4-dimethyloxazoline fatty acid derivatives, the fatty acid composition of 15 mushroom species belonging to 9 genera and 5 families of order Agaricales growing in Bulgaria is determined. The structure of 31 fatty acids (not all present in each species) is unambiguously elucidated, with linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids being the main components (ranging between 70.9% (Marasmius oreades) and 91.2% (Endoptychum agaricoides)). A group of three hexadecenoic positionally isomeric fatty acids, 6-, 9- and 11-16:1, appeared to be characteristic components of the examined species. By applying chemometrics it was possible to show that the fatty acid composition closely reflects the classification of the species.

Advances in silver ion chromatography for the analysis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols-2001 to 2011.

An effort is made to critically present the achievements in silver ion chromatography during the last decade. Novelties in columns, mobile-phase compositions and detectors are described. Recent applications of silver ion chromatography in the analysis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols are presented while stressing novel analytical strategies or new objects. The tendencies in the application of the method in complementary ways with reversed-phase chromatography, chiral chromatography and, especially, mass detection are outlined.

Resolution and quantification of isomeric fatty acids by silver ion HPLC: fatty acid composition of aniseed oil (Pimpinella anisum, Apiaceae).

A silver ion HPLC procedure is described that is suitable to determine the fatty acid composition of plant seed oils. After conversion of fatty acids to p-methoxyphenacyl derivatives, it was possible to achieve baseline resolution of all fatty acid components with 0 to 3 double bonds, including the positionally isomeric 18:1 fatty acids oleic acid (cis 9-18:1), petroselinic acid (cis 6-18:1), and cis-vaccenic acid (cis 11-18:1), in aniseed oil (Pimpinella anisum, Apiaceae) by a single gradient run on a single cation exchange column laboratory converted to the silver ion form. The UV detector response (280 nm) was linearly related to the fatty acid concentration in the range 0.01 to 3.5 mg/mL.

Separation of isomeric octadecenoic fatty acids in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils as p-methoxyphenacyl esters using a single-column silver ion high-performance liquid chromatography (Ag-HPLC).

A protocol for separation of positionally isomeric trans- and cis-octadecenoic fatty acids as their p-methoxyphenacyl esters, using a single column silver ion high-performance liquid chromatography (Ag-HPLC) with UV detection, is described. The procedure involves hydrolysis of oil to free fatty acids, derivatization to p-methoxyphenacyl esters, purification and separation by Ag-HPLC. The procedure is robust and relatively rapid. In total, it takes about 16 h or overnight and a further 5 h to carry out. Its feature and value consist in the application of p-methoxyphenacyl esters in Ag-HPLC, thus ensuring excellent simultaneous separation of both configurational and positional fatty acid isomers on a single column by a single run. Quantification is not affected by the fatty acid structure, and the method is highly sensitive. As fatty acid isomerization is a strong evidence for adulteration of lipid-containing food products with chemically modified oils and fats, the procedure is especially appropriate for detection and authenticity analysis in many areas of food manufacturing and quality control.

Retention of lipids in silver ion high-performance liquid chromatography: facts and assumptions.

The factors affecting the retention of lipids in silver ion HPLC are presented and discussed here, according to the present understanding of the processes that take place in this chromatographic system. The discussion is focused mainly on fatty acids and triacylglycerols.

Regioselective separation of isomeric triacylglycerols by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography: stationary phase and mobile phase effects.

Complete regioselective separation of five pairs of isomeric dipalmitoyl polyalkenoyl glycerols with two to six double bonds in the unsaturated acyl residues has been achieved by RP-HPLC on a single ODS column. Four ODS columns with stationary phases containing different percentages of free silanol groups have been tested. Binary mobile phases of ACN admixed with dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, ethanol, or acetone have been examined. The choice of modifier depended on the nature of the stationary phase. The more polar solvents were better suited for stationary phases with higher percentage of free silanol groups. Isomeric species were eluted according to chain length, number of double bonds, and the position of the unsaturated acyl chain in the glycerol molecule. Retention increases in the order 20:5 < 22:6 < 18:3 < 20:4 << 18:2. Within each isomeric pair, the species with unsaturated acyl chain occupying either the sn-1- or the 3-position were retained preferentially. Complete simultaneous regioselective separation of 10 isomeric triacylglycerols in a single isocratic run on a single ODS column was demonstrated.

Naphthalene degradation and biosurfactant activity by Bacillus cereus 28BN.

Biosurfactant activity and naphthalene degradation by a new strain identified as Bacillus cereus 28BN were studied. The strain grew well and produced effective biosurfactants in the presence of n-alkanes, naphthalene, crude oil and vegetable oils. The biosurfactants were detected by the surface tension lowering of the medium, thin layer chromatography and infrared spectra analysis. With (2%) naphthalene as the sole carbon source, high levels of rhamnolipids at a concentration of 2.3 g 1(-1) were determined in the stationary growth. After 20 d of incubation 72 +/- 4% of the initial naphthalene was degraded. This is the first report for a Bacillus cereus rhamnolipid producing strain that utilized naphthalene under aerobic conditions. The strain looks promising for application in environmental technologies.

Resolution of triacylglycerol positional isomers by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

The ability of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to separate some positionally isomeric disaturated and monounsaturated triacylglycerols (TAGs) as intact species is demonstrated for the first time. Mobile phases of acetonitrile modified with methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, acetone, or dichloromethane were tested for the separation of POP-PPO, PLP-PPL, PEP-PPE, and PDP-PPD (P-palmitic, O-oleic, L-linoleic, E-eicosapentaenoic, D-docosahexaenoic acid residue) on a single RP-HPLC column. The resolution improved with increasing number of double bonds in the acyl residues. While POP and PPO were only partially resolved, PDP and PPD were fully separated with all tested mobile phases, except those containing methanol. Also separated were the four TAGs having the same equivalent carbon number (ECN = 42), PEP, PPE, PDP, and PPD, on a single RP-HPLC column with mobile phase acetonitrile-2-propanol (70:30, v/v) at 0.8 mL/min. In all cases the isomer with the unsaturated acyl residue in either 1- or 3-position was retained more strongly than the respective 2-isomer.

Validated methods for the quantification of biologically active constituents of poplar-type propolis.

The validation of rapid, low-cost spectrophotometric procedures for the quantification of the three main groups of bioactive substances (flavones and flavonols, flavanones and dihydroflavonols, and total phenolics) in poplar-type propolis has been performed. A spectrophotometric assay based on the formation of an aluminium chloride complex was applied for the quantification of total flavones and flavonols using galangin as standard. Because of the high amount of flavanones and dihydroflavonols in "poplar type" propolis, the introduction of a distinct procedure for their quantification was considered of special significance and the DAB9 colorimetric method was applied for the purpose. Total phenolic content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu procedure using a mixture of pinocembrin and galangin as a reference. The procedures were validated using a model mixture of compounds representing the poplar-type propolis composition as found in previous studies. The accuracy (recovery) varied in the range 84-109%, and the relative standard deviation was 0.5-6.2%. The developed spectrophotometric procedures were applied to six poplar type propolis samples. The results were verified independently by a HPLC procedure. The two sets of results agreed satisfactory, as proven by Student's t-test.

Enhanced hydrocarbon biodegradation by a newly isolated Bacillus subtilis strain.

The relation between hydrocarbon degradation and biosurfactant (rhamnolipid) production by a new Bacillus subtilis 22BN strain was investigated. The strain was isolated for its capacity to utilize n-hexadecane and naphthalene and at the same time to produce surface-active compound at high concentrations (1.5 - 2.0 g l(-1)). Biosurfactant production was detected by surface tension lowering and emulsifying activity. The strain is a good degrader of both hydrocarbons used with degradability of 98.3 +/- 1% and 75 +/- 2% for n-hexadecane and naphthalene, respectively. Measurement of cell hydrophobicity showed that the combination of slightly soluble substrate and rhamnolipid developed higher hydrophobicity correlated with increased utilization of both hydrocarbon substrates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Bacillus subtilis strain that degrades hydrophobic compounds and at the same time produces rhamnolipid biosurfactant.