title: Ceramides as possible nutraceutical compounds: characterization of the ceramides of the Moro blood orange ( Citrus sinensis ).
abstract: Ceramides are presented as nutraceutical compounds for protection of colon carcinoma and as important cosmetic preparation components, increasing absorption through the skin. Therefore, the ceramide (Cer) content of Moro blood oranges was determined by mass spectrometry. A total of 114 Cer species were identified: ∼160 mg in the peels and ∼140 mg in the pulp per kilogram of oranges, expressed as "milligram equivalents of d18:1,17:0 Cer". The predominant ceramides contained 4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine (t18:1(Δ8)) and 4-hydroxysphinganine (t18:0) as long-chain bases (LCBs) and fatty acids (FAs) with different structures. In the pulp, t18:1(Δ8)- and t18:0-containing Cer species comprised 50.5 and 33.5% of the total, respectively, 11.5 and 3.5% non-hydroxylated FAs, respectively, 32.0 and 21.0% α-hydroxylated FAs, respectively, and 7.0 and 9.0% α,β-hydroxylated FAs, respectively. In the peels, t18:1(Δ8)- and t18:0-containing species comprised 49.5 and 34.5% of the total, respectively, 16.0 and 1.5% non-hydroxylated FAs, respectively, 31.5 and 29.0% α-hydroxylated FAs, respectively, and 2.0 and 4.0% α,β-hydroxylated FAs, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan , Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090 Segrate (Milan), Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valsecchi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mauri
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casellato
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ciampa
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rizza
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonina
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonina
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sonnino
mesh_terms: D002518:Ceramides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D032084:Citrus sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D012802:Sicily; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides