Phototoxic coumarins in limes.

Coumarins in the rind and pulp of Persian and Key limes were quantified. In the rind of Persian limes, coumarin concentrations were in the order: limettin > bergapten > isopimpinellin > xanthotoxin > psoralen. In the rind of Key limes, psoralen and xanthotoxin were analytically absent; limettin was 10 times more concentrated than either bergapten or isopimpinellin, which were equal in concentration. Coumarin content in Persian lime pulp was in the order: isopimpinellin > limettin > bergapten > xanthotoxin > psoralen. For Key lime pulp, the concentrations of limettin, isopimpinellin and bergapten were equal; psoralen and xanthotoxin were not detected. Coumarins in lime pulp were 13 to 182 times less concentrated than those in the peel. Based on the amounts and types of coumarins, Persian limes appear to be potentially more phototoxic than Key limes. Although bergapten may be the main component of limes responsible for phytophotodermatitis, dermatological interaction assays with psoralen, bergapten, xanthotoxin and limettin should be conducted.

Squalene in grapefruit wax as a possible natural protectant against chilling injury.

The influence of temperature conditioning on stored grapefruit against chilling injury (CI) as related to the fruit's neutral lipids in the peel was investigated. Squalene, a highly unsaturated C30 isoprene hydrocarbon, was found to be present in the epicuticular wax of grapefruit. The optimal temperature for biosynthesis of squalene in grapefruit was 15°C; this is also the temperature reported previously as the optimum temperature for conditioning grapefruit against chilling injury. Control and temperature-conditioned grapefruit were stored monthly over three seasons from 1986 to 1989. Fruits were rated for chilling injury and the levels of squalene were determined. An inverse relationship found between CI and squalene level suggested that squalene may protect grapefruit from CI.

Relationships of leaf Fatty acids to cold hardening of citrus seedlings.

Three cultivars of citrus with different sensitivities to freezing temperatures (citron, Citrus medica L.; rough lemon, C. limon Burm. F; sour orange, C. aurantium L.) were cold hardened for 4 weeks. Lipids from leaves of hardened and control seedlings were fractionated and analyzed for fatty acids. The absolute amount of triglycerides and phospholipids increased in the leaves upon hardening. With hardening, total linoleic acid also increased 141% in citron, 210% in rough lemon, and 233% in sour orange. Specific increases in linoleic acid were found in triglycerides, in the four phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol), and in neutral lipids more polar than triglycerides. Trans-3-hexadecenoic acid was found only in phosphatidylglycerol.

Comparative citrus fatty acid profiles of triglycerides, monogalactosyl diglycerides, steryl esters and esterified steryl glucosides.

Vesicular lipids from six orange and two tangor varieties were extracted, purified and separated by chromatography into triglycerides, monogalactosyl diglycerides, steryl esters and esterified steryl glucosides. Methyl esters of the fatty acids found in these four lipids were prepared and analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. Each of the eight citrus varieties gave a series of four profiles which could be distinguished from the others. The Temple tangor has four profiles all showing a large percentage of linolenic acid. In all varieties steryl esters and to a lesser extent esterified steryl glucosides contain relatively large concentrations of 22∶0 to 26∶0 saturated acids. The profiles differ markedly from the patterns found for these four lipids in other higher plants studied.