Enzymatic Synthesis of Structured Phospholipids using land plant sources

Introduction. Gamma-linolenic (GLA) and stearidonic (SDA) fatty acids are metabolic precursors of lipid mediators with anti-inflammatory activity in the body and their consumption could mitigate the state of chronic inflammation associated with obesity. These fatty acids are found in very few natural sources, being Echium plantagineum seed oil one of the richest. On the other hand, the intestinal bioaccessibility of fatty acids could be increase by being supplied as phospholipids (PLs) instead of triacylglycerides. Objective. To synthesize enzymatically structured phospholipids (SPLs) containing GLA and SDA using soybean lecithin and E. plantagineum seed oil as original sources. Methods. The following were used as substrates for synthesis: a PLs concentrate (from soybean lecithin) and a GLA+SDA concentrate as free fatty acids (FFAs) or ethyl esters (EEs) from E. plantagineum seed oil. As biocatalyst, RM-IM immobilized lipase (Rhizomucor miehei), specific for sn-1.3, was used, and the following variables were optimized: reaction time (h), amount of lipase (%) and substrates mass ratio using the Taguchi method. The reactions were performed at 50°C and the fatty acid profiles of resulting SPL were obtained by gas chromatography. Results. A higher percentage of GLA+SDA was incorporated into the SPLs using as substrate AGL (7.73%) than EE (6.57%) (p-value 0,04; WILCOXON test). The highest incorporation of GLA+SDA (39.9%) was obtained after 24 h, 20% lipase and substrates mass ratio PLs:FFAs 1:6, Taguchi method. Discussion. Using RM-IM lipase, optimal results of incorporating of GLA+SDA were achieved at a low cost, unlike the phospholipases that are used in most studies about SPLs. In addition, the best incorporation in the form of AGL agrees with the results of several authors. Conclusión. It is possible to obtain SPLs containing GLA+SDA using RM-IM lipase. These products could be used as potential ingredients in novel functional foods.