COMMON VEGETABLES AND FRUITS AS A SOURCE OF 1,2‐DI‐O‐α‐LINOLENOYL‐3‐O‐β‐D‐GALACTOPYRANOSYL‐sn‐GLYCEROL, A POTENTIAL ANTI‐INFLAMMATORY AND ANTITUMOR AGENT

ABSTRACT 1,2‐Di‐O‐α‐linolenoyl‐3‐O‐β‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐sn‐glycerol (DLGG) has previously been found in a few medicinal plants and food plants, and has been shown to possess antitumor and anti‐inflammatory activity. A range of common vegetables and fruits was investigated for this bioactive galactolipid in order to establish which vegetables and fruits are good sources of DLGG. Most green vegetables had a relatively high content of DLGG of over 200 mg/kg fresh weight (FW), while its concentration in most fruits and root vegetables was low, ranging from “not detectable” to less than 100 mg/kg FW. The highest content of DLGG was found in spinach, kale, sugar peas and green beans, with concentrations ranging from 546 to 396 mg/kg FW. The results indicate that the galactolipid DLGG may play a role in human diet as an important nutraceutical. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS As demonstrated in the present investigation, the potential bioactive galactolipid 1,2‐di‐O‐α‐linolenoyl‐3‐O‐β‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐sn‐glycerol (DLGG) is common in the edible parts of many food plants. If the pharmacological effects of DLGG are established in preclinical and clinical trials, it may contribute significantly to the health‐promoting effects of certain food plants. This information could be used to increase the content of DLGG in food plants and plant based products in order to improve their health promoting effects.