title: Policosanol content and composition in perilla seeds.
abstract: Policosanols, long-chain alcohols, have many beneficial physiological activities. Contents and compositions in perilla seeds (Perilla frutescens) produced in Korea and China were determined. Waxy materials were extracted from perilla seeds using hot hexane. Yield of the waxy materials from perilla seeds was 72.1 mg/100 g of dry weight. Contents and compositions of the waxy materials and policosanols were identified and quantified by TLC, HPLC, and GC. Major components of the waxy materials from Korean and Chinese perilla seeds were policosanols (25.5 and 34.8%, respectively), hydrocarbons (18.8 and 10.5%), wax esters, steryl esters and aldehydes (53.0 and 49.8%), acids (1.7 and 2.1%), and triacylglycerols (1.0 and 2.9%), determined by HPLC. For comparison, waxy materials of sesame seeds were also analyzed. Yield of the waxy materials from sesame seeds were 8.6 mg/100 g. Less than 5% policosanols were detected in the waxy materials extracted from sesame seeds produced in Korea and China. Wax esters or steryl esters accounted for 93-95% of the sesame waxy materials. Policosanols in the perilla seeds were composed of 67-68% octacosanol, 16-17% hexacosanol, 6-9% triacontanol, and others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and Center for Healthcare Technology Development, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.forename: Keum Taek
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jae Nam
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Choong Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases / Q000032:analysis; D004952:Esters / Q000032:analysis; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000032:analysis*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D031343:Perilla / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014885:Waxes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014885:Waxes; C080710:policosanol; D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases; C043439:aldehyde decarbonylase