Publisher Summary This chapter presents detailed information on chlorophylls and carotenoids to give practical directions toward their quantitative isolation and determination in extracts from leaves, chloroplasts, thylakoid particles, and pigment proteins. The chapter focuses on the spectral characteristics and absorption coefficients of chlorophylls, pheophytins, and carotenoids, which are the basis for establishing equations to quantitatively determine them. Therefore, the specific absorption coefficients of the pigments are re-evaluated. This is achieved by using a two-beam spectrophotometer of the new generation, which allows programmed automatic recording and printing out of the proper wavelengths and absorbancy values. Several procedures have been developed for the separation of the photosynthetic pigments, including column (CC), paper (PC), and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). All chloroplast carotenoids exhibit a typical absorption spectrum that is characterized by three absorption maxima (violaxanthin, neoxanthin) or two maxima with one shoulder (lutein and β-carotene) in the blue spectral region.

Chlorophylls and carotenoids: Pigments of photosynthetic biomembranes

This article is a review of the fundamental chemistry of the tocopherols and tocotrienols relevant to their antioxidant action. Despite the general agreement that α-tocopherol is the most efficient antioxidant and vitamin E homologuein vivo, there was always a considerable discrepancy in its “absolute” and “relative” antioxidant effectivenessin vitro, especially when compared to γ-tocopherol. Many chemical, physical, biochemical, physicochemical, and other factors seem responsible for the observed discrepancy between the relative antioxidant potencies of the tocopherolsin vivo andin vitro. This paper aims at highlighting some possible reasons for the observed differences between the tocopherols (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-) in relation to their interactions with the important chemical species involved in lipid peroxidation, specifically trace metal ions, singlet oxygen, nitrogen oxides, and antioxidant synergists. Although literature reports related to the chemistry of the tocotrienols are quite meager, they also were included in the discussion in virtue of their structural and functional resemblance to the tocopherols.

The chemistry and antioxidant properties of tocopherols and tocotrienols

The rapid determination of algal chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments and their breakdown products in natural waters by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

The thiobarbituric acid reaction and the autoxidations of polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters.

Volatile lipid oxidation products.

Circumstantial evidence has long pointed to linolenic acid as the unstable precursor of “reversion” flavors in soybean oil. Direct evidence has now been obtained from two sources: a) A qualitative study of the flavors after storage of soybean oil in which the linolenic acid content has been significantly lowered by furfural extraction, and b) organoleptic identification studies of stored soybean oil, stored cottonseed oil, and a cottonseed oil into whose glyceride structure linolenic acid has been introduced with the use of an interesterification catalyst. It is concluded that linolenic acid is an unstable precursor of “fishy-painty-grassy-melony” flavors in soybean oil.

The flavor problem of soybean oil. VIII. Linolenic acid

Methyl oleate and methyl elaidate, as well as other monoenecis andtrans isomers of fatty esters, can be separated quickly and conveniently by a preparative chromatographic procedure in which a silver-saturated ion-exchange resin is used. Separations are based on differences in stabilites of the silver-olefin complexes. Recoveries of better than 95% were made, and puretrans andcis monoene fractions were collected. This method can be used to separate saturates fromcis andtrans monoenes. Thecis,trans,cis,cis, andtrans,trans-9-12-octadecadienoates were separated. Whilecis,trans andtrans,trans dienes were cluted separately, thecis,cis diene isomer remained on the column.

Chromatographic separation ofcis andtrans fatty esters by argentation with a macroreticular exchange resin

Linoleate hydroperoxides from autoxidation of methyl linoleate and from lipoxidase oxidation of linoleic acid are compared. Data indicate an equal amount of methyl 9- and 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoate produced by autoxidation of methyl linoleate, and the exclusive formation of 13-hydroperoxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoic acid from the incubation of lipoxidase with linoleic acid. As a result of these findings, a specific mechanism for the reaction of lipoxidase with linoleic acid is postulated.

Mechanism of lipoxidase reaction. I. Specificity of hydroperoxidation of linoleic acid

High-performance liquid chromatography of plant pigments

The sodium methoxide-catalyzed random interesterification of liquid soybean oil-soy trisaturate blends was explored as a possible route to zerotrans margarine oils. Lipase hydrolysis of the rearranged fats showed that with 0.2% catalyst, interesterification is complete within 30 min at 75-80 C. The glyceride structures of natural and randomized soybean oil-soy trisaturate blends are presented, and relationships between their structure and physical properties are discussed. Organoleptic evaluations showed that randomization of the glyceride structure had no adverse effects on flavor and oxidative stability. Flavor evaluations made against a commercially hardened tub margarine oil showed that interesterified oil had comparable initial and aged flavor scores. X-ray diffraction studies demonstrated that randomized soybean oil-soy trisaturate blends possess the beta-prime crystal structure desirable for use in margarine production. Dilatometric data indicate that random interesterification of 20% by weight of soy trisaturate into the glyceride structure of soybean oil provides a product having a solid fat index suitable for use in a soft tub margarine.

Herbert J. Dutton

Papers

The flavor problem of soybean oil. VIII. Linolenic acid

Chromatographic separation ofcis andtrans fatty esters by argentation with a macroreticular exchange resin

Mechanism of lipoxidase reaction. I. Specificity of hydroperoxidation of linoleic acid

High-performance liquid chromatography of plant pigments

“Zerotrans” margarines: Preparation, structure, and properties of interesterified soybean oil-Soy trisaturate blends