Preparation of triacylglycerols rich in omega-3 fatty acids from sardine oil using a Rhizomucor miehei lipase: focus in the EPA/DHA ratio

Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2014 Feb;172(4):1866-81. doi: 10.1007/s12010-013-0616-1. Epub 2013 Nov 29.

Abstract

The increasing evidence on the differential biochemical effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) raises the need of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid concentrates with different amounts of these fatty acids. In the present work, physicochemical and enzymatic techniques were combined to obtain acylglycerols, mainly triacylglycerols (TAG), rich in n-3 fatty acids. Sardine oil was obtained by washing sardine (Sardina pilchardus) mince with a NaHCO3 solution, hydrolyzed in a KOH-ethanol solution, and concentrated with urea. The esterification reaction was performed in the stoichiometric proportion of substrates for re-esterification to TAG, with 10 % level of Rhizomucor miehei lipase based on the weight of substrates, without any solvent, during 48 h. This procedure led to approximately 88 % of acylglycerols, where more than 66 % were TAG and the concentration of n-3 fatty acids was higher than 60 %, the EPA and DHA ratio (EPA/DHA) was 4:1. The content of DHA in the unesterifed fraction (free fatty acids) increased from 20 to 54 %, while the EPA level in the same fraction decreased from 33 to 12.5 % (EPA/DHA ratio ≈1:4). Computational methods (density functional theory calculations) have been carried out at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level to explain some of the experimental results.

MeSH terms

  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / chemistry*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / metabolism
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / chemistry*
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / chemistry*
  • Fish Oils / chemistry*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Lipase / metabolism*
  • Rhizomucor / enzymology*
  • Triglycerides

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fish Oils
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Triglycerides
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid
  • Lipase