Α-Parinaric acid

α-Parinaric acid is a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid. This fatty acid was discovered by Tsujimoto in 1933. α-Parinaric acid occurs naturally in the seeds of the makita tree (Parinarium laurinum), a tree found in Fiji and other Pacific islands. Makita seeds are contain about 46 % α-parinaric acid, 34 % α-eleostearic acid as major component with lesser amount of saturated, oleic acid and linoleic acid . ^[1] α-parinaric acid also found in the seed fat from Impatiens balsamina, a member of the family Balsaminaceae. The fatty acids of Impatiens balsamina are 4.7 % palmitic acid, 5.8 % stearic acid, 2.8 % arachidic acid, 18.3 % oleic acid, 9.2 % linoleic acid, 30.1 % linolenic acid and 29.1 % α-parinaric acid. ^[2]

References

1. ^ T.P.Hilditch et al. "The Chemical Constitution of Natural Fats", Fouth Edition (1964), pg 253
2. ^ F.D.Gunstone. "Fatty Acid and Lipid Chemistry", First Edition (1996), pg 10.