Fatty Acid Distribution in Polar and Nonpolar Lipid Classes of Hazelnut Oil (Corylus avellana L.)

The lipid extract from hazelnuts was classified as polar (glucolipids = 1.4% and phospholipids = <1%) or nonpolar (triacylglycerides = 98.4%) by column and thin-layer chromatography. Fatty acids derivatized as methyl esters were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector and mass spectrometer. Oleic acid was predominant in all lipid classes, followed by linoleic, palmitic, and stearic. Myristic, palmitoleic, hexadecadienoic, linolenic, eicosanoic, and eicosenoic acids were also present in minor proportions. Monounsaturated fatty acids predominated in nonpolar lipids, whereas saturated and polyunsaturated acids were more prominent in polar lipids. Fatty acid contents were compared by ANOVA. Significant differences were found for fatty acid contents in the different lipid classes ( p < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between monounsaturated−polyunsaturated and monounsaturated−saturated fatty acids.