Effect of brown seaweed lipids on fatty acid composition and lipid hydroperoxide levels of mouse liver

Brown seaweed lipids from Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame), Sargassum horneri (Akamoku), and Cystoseira hakodatensis (Uganomoku) contained several bioactive compounds, namely, fucoxanthin, polyphenols, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Fucoxanthin and polyphenol contents of Akamoku and Uganomoku lipids were higher than those of Wakame lipids, while Wakame lipids showed higher total omega-3 PUFA content than Akamoku and Uganomoku lipids. The levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) in liver lipids of KK-A(y) mouse significantly increased by Akamoku and Uganomoku lipid feeding as compared with the control, but not by Wakame lipid feeding. Fucoxanthin has been reported to accelerate the bioconversion of omega-3 PUFA and omega-6 PUFA to DHA and AA, respectively. The higher hepatic DHA and AA level of mice fed Akamoku and Uganomoku lipids would be attributed to the higher content of fucoxanthin of Akamoku and Uganomoku lipids. The lipid hydroperoxide levels of the liver of mice fed brown seaweed lipids were significantly lower than those of control mice, even though total PUFA content was higher in the liver of mice fed brown seaweed lipids. This would be, at least in part, due to the antioxidant activity of fucoxanthin metabolites in the liver.     

Lipid class composition of the microalga Pavlova lutheri: eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids

The lipid classes of Pavlova lutheri, cultivated in semicontinuous mode, were studied by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography in attempts to describe the distribution of fatty acid residues within its lipid pool, with special emphasis on eicosapentaenoic (C20:5n-3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6n-3, DHA) acids. Neutral lipids and glycolipids were the major constituents and accounted for approximately 57 and 24% of the total fatty acid residues (TFA), respectively. Phospholipids accounted for approximately 10% of TFA. Two lipid classes, acylated steryl glycosides (SG) and diphosphatidylglycerols (DPG), were eventually identified in P. lutheri for the first time. The nonpolar fraction was mainly composed of triacylglycerol (TAG), whereas the polar fraction was mainly composed of monogalactosylacylglycerols (MGDG). The distribution of total EPA and DHA within the lipid pool was calculated in attempts to ascertain the quality of said microalgae as a feed source, as well as the possibility of enhancement of individual fatty acid production and extraction thereafter. EPA was especially concentrated in MGDG (approximately 45%) and TAG (approximately 33%); conversely, DHA was dispersed through various classes, especially within TAG (approximately 27%), DPG (approximately 22%), and betaine lipids (21%).     

Chemical composition of Greek avgotaracho prepared from mullet (Mugil cephalus): nutritional and health benefits

Crude composition, lipid composition, and tocopherols, ascorbic acid, cholesterol, phytosterols, and squalene content together with fatty acids and antiplatelet activities of total, neutral, and polar lipids of avgotaracho (wax-covered, dried, and salted Mugil cephalus roe) were studied and compared with those of similar products. Wax and steryl esters accounted for 63.7% of roe lipids followed by phosphatidylcholine (PC), which comprised 20.3%. Wax esters were rich in saturated fatty alcohols, monounsaturated fatty acids, and long chain omega3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). The fatty acid distribution in roe total and neutral lipids was similar to that of wax esters, while in polar lipids, the omega3 HUFA predominated. Avgotaracho provides significant amounts of protein, fat, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and PC, certain amounts of squalene and phytosterols, and cholesterol at levels comparable to hens' eggs. Total, polar, and neutral lipids of avgotaracho exhibited a strong inhibition of platelet activating factors and thrombin, with polar lipids being more active. The results obtained indicate that avgotaracho is a food of high nutritive value, rich in protein and lipids with a healthy lipid profile in terms of omega3/omega6 ratio and major fatty acid classes, while the antiplatelet activity of its oil indicates a putative antithrombotic potential.     

Turkish Tombul hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.). 2. Lipid characteristics and oxidative stability

The quality of crude hazelnut oil extracted from Tombul (Round) hazelnut, grown in the Giresun province of Turkey, was determined by measuring lipid classes, fatty acids, and fat soluble bioactives (tocopherols and phytosterols). Oxygen uptake, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and alpha-tocopherol levels of stripped and crude hazelnut oils in bulk and oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion systems were also evaluated as indices of lipid oxidation over a 21 day storage period at 60 degrees C in the dark. The total lipid content of Tombul hazelnut was 61.2%, of which 98.8% were nonpolar and 1.2% polar constituents. Triacylglycerols were the major nonpolar lipid class and contributed nearly 100% to the total amount. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol were the most abundant polar lipids, respectively. Sixteen fatty acids were identified, among which oleic acid contributed 82.7% to the total, followed by linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. Unsaturated fatty acids accounted for 92.2% of the total fatty acids present. Among oil soluble bioactives, alpha-tocopherol (38.2 mg/100 g) and beta-sitosterol (105.5 mg/100 g) were predominant in hazelnut oil and comprised 88 and 93% of the total tocopherols and phytosterols present, respectively. The results also showed that both stripped and crude hazelnut oils were more stable in terms of lipid oxidation in the bulk oil as compared to those in an o/w emulsion.     

Increase in lipid content in potato tubers modified by 14-3-3 gene overexpression

Recently, transgenic potato plants were created with overexpression of the 14-3-3 protein derived from Cucurbita pepo. Detailed analysis of those plants suggested that the function of the isolated 14-3-3 isoform is in the control of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in the plants. 14-3-3 protein overexpression gave rise to an increase in soluble sugar and catecholamine contents in both leaves and tubers. It is proposed that 14-3-3 protein affects carbohydrate metabolism in potato plants via regulation of catecholamine synthesis. Furthermore, genetically modified potato tubers with 14-3-3 protein overexpression showed changes in lipid content and composition. The transgenic potato tubers contained 69% more total fat compared to the wild-type plant. Separation of tuber lipids into polar and nonpolar fractions revealed that the transgenic potato tubers contained almost 3 times more nonpolar lipids than the control. Analysis of fatty acid composition, conducted by the means of gas chromatography, showed that linoleic acid was the main fatty acid present in the tubers of both modified and control potato plants. In the nonpolar fraction of the fat of the transgenic tubers the unsaturated fatty acids exhibited a higher participation in the sum of all fatty acids.     

Lipid characterization of mangrove thraustochytrid--Schizochytrium mangrovei

Lipid class composition and distribution of fatty acids within the lipid pool of microalga, Schizochytrium mangrovei FB3 harvested at the late exponential phase, was studied, with special emphasis on the distribution of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n-3, DHA). Neutral lipids were the major lipid constituents (95.90% of total lipids) in which triacylglyerol (TAG) was the predominant component and accounted for 97.20% of the neutral lipids. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) was the major polar lipid. Phosphatic acid and phosphatidylserine were the two classes in phospholipids reported for the first time in thraustochytrids. Both TAG and PC were primarily saturated and consisted of C16:0 at approximately 50% of total fatty acids. DHA was found to be distributed in all lipid classes and to be the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. TAG contained the highest amount of DHA, although the percentage of DHA in total fatty acids in TAG (29.74%) was lower than that in PC (39.61%). The result from this study would be useful for further optimization of DHA production by S. mangrovei.     

Fractionation by column chromatography of lipids and lipid sulfur extracted from soils

Total lipids extracted from eight soils were fractionated by silicic acid column chromatography, to yield fractions representing less-polar lipids, glycolipids and polar lipids. The distribution between these lipid classes was similar for all soils, with glycolipids dominant (mean 64%) and polar lipids least abundant (mean 4%). In contrast, lipid S distribution showed considerable variation among samples of diverse origin. The polar lipid fraction accounted for 7–36% of lipid S, despite the small proportions present. Significant concentrations of S(0.03–2.3%) were found in all Chromatographic fractions, indicating a variety of sulfolipid forms. These findings indicate that silicic acid column chromatography is a useful preparatory tool to characterize sulfolipid constituents of soil.     

Comparison of fatty acid and polar lipid contents of tubers from two potato species, Solanum tuberosum and Solanum phureja

Total and individual fatty acid contents were determined in raw tubers of four genotypes from each of the two species Solanum phureja and S. tuberosum. The four S. phureja genotypes contained statistically significantly higher concentrations of total fatty acids, with their average value being 37% greater than that for the mean of the four S. tuberosum cultivars. In both species, a total of 17 fatty acids were detected in quantifiable amounts, and in all genotypes the predominant fatty acid was linoleic followed by alpha-linolenic and palmitic acids. Unusually, 15-methyl hexadecanoate was present as a minor acid in both species. Although a number of statistically significant differences in the fatty acid percentage compositions were found between and within the two species, these were generally small. Averaged over all species and genotypes, tuber storage resulted in an initial small but statistically significant increase in total fatty acid content, but prolonged storage resulted in a fall to the initial values detected close to harvest. The same trend was evident for S. phureja alone (for mean values of all genotypes), but for S. tuberosum the total fatty acid content remained constant over the whole storage period. For both species, the contents (both as absolute levels and as percent compositions) of linoleic acid decreased and alpha-linolenic acid increased in tubers over the whole storage period, and possible mechanisms are discussed. Also, the absolute levels of these two acids were greater in S. phureja than in S. tuberosum, and this is discussed in relation to the development of flavor-related compounds during cooking. The polar lipids of one representative of S. tuberosum and of S. phureja were qualitatively similar. There were only minor differences in the polar lipid percentage compositions and in the corresponding fatty acid compositions of the individual polar lipids between the two species, although the absolute levels of the total, and of some individual, polar lipids were higher in S. phureja.     

Rapid Methods for Milled Rice Surface Total Lipid and Free Fatty Acid Determination

Total lipids and free fatty acid (FFA) determination is widely used in the food industry to assess the quality of milled rice. An improved rapid ambient temperature isopropanol (IPA) extraction method to determine milled rice surface lipid was more effective than Soxhlet solvent extraction. The improved method was probably due to better extraction of polar lipids and antioxidants by IPA. A colorimetric method to determine FFA requiring only 30 μL of sample is also described. The new technique provides results similar to those obtained using the slower, conventional acid‐base titration method. The colorimetric FFA method requires a smaller sample size, has greater precision, and is more objective. The new methods are particularly suitable for industrial use in providing rapid results for large numbers of samples.     

Dichloromethane as a solvent for lipid extraction and assessment of lipid classes and fatty acids from samples of different natures

The usefulness of the solvent mixture dichloromethane/methanol for lipid extraction and the determination of lipid classes and fatty acids in samples of different natures was conducted. Two different extraction methods were compared, one containing chloroform/methanol, another containing dichloromethane/methanol. Total lipid extraction showed some minor differences but no variation in the lipid classes. Regarding the fatty acid profile, in Echium virescens seeds, 17 major fatty acids could be identified and quantified, and all were equally extracted when either solvent system was employed. In Echium acanthocarpum hairy roots, 17 major fatty acids were quantified, showing some statistical differences for one cell line in favor of chloroform. The data obtained from the liquid nutrient medium were also comparable. The cod roe sample showed 31 major fatty acids, showing no statistical differences between the two solvent systems. Contrarily, the CH 2Cl 2 method was able to extract 31 main fatty acids found in European seabass dorsal muscle more efficiently than the CHCl 3 method. The results indicate that, for lipid extraction and fatty acid assessment, dichloromethane/methanol can readily replace the commonly employed chloroform/methanol, thus avoiding the major health, security, and regulatory problems associated with the use of chloroform.     

Estimation of Free Glycolipids in Wheat Flour by HPLC

The chloroform-acetone mixture (4:1, v/v) was an effective solvent for eluting the nonpolar lipid fraction, including free fatty acids, from the polar lipid (glycolipid and phospholipid) fractions from free lipids of 21 hard winter wheat flours using a solid-phase extraction system. Amounts of monogalactosyldiglycerides (MGDG) and digalactosyldiglycerides (DGDG) in the glycolipid fraction were determined by normal-phase HPLC with a gradient system using an evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD) and a diode array detectors (DAD). Unsaturated fatty acids showed higher UV absorbances from 200 to 213 nm when compared with saturated palmitic acid. However, significant linear correlation coefficients were obtained between the peak areas measured by a DAD and GL contents determined by an ELSD, suggesting that fatty acid composition of flour GL could be fairly constant. Using an ELSD as a reference, equations for determination of MGDG or DGDG quantities were derived from the peak areas of a DAD by multivariate regression methods. Determination of MGDG and DGDG quantities was also possible using only a DAD.     

Assessing lipid coating of the human oral cavity after ingestion of fatty foods

The coating on the oral surface plays a significant role in mouthfeel perception, which is an important attribute governing perception of reduced-fat or low-fat food products. The aim of this work was to develop efficient methods to quantify the coating of the lipids covering the oral surface after ingestion of fatty foods. Three different approaches were assessed to investigate the in-mouth behavior of fluid foods in a subject. A first approach determined the mass of lipids retained in the oral cavity by rinsing it out. A second approach evaluated the thickness of the lipid coating on the tongue by fluorescence measurement using a dye incorporated in oil. Finally, a third approach measured local lipid thickness by adsorption of the lipids on a filter paper. All applied methods showed results in the same range. The thickness of the lipid coating was on average between 5 and 32 microm. The total lipid recoveries obtained by controlled rinses from the oral cavity were approximately 96 and 50% for single filter paper. A fast, simple, and quantitative method was developed to measure the thickness of the lipid coating on an oral surface after ingestion of fatty foods. This work presents the potential of the method to investigate in-mouth distribution and residues of lipids and establishes new avenues to study in-mouth behavior of food components and its influence on the sensory perception.     

SFE-plus-C(18) lipid cleanup and selective extraction method for GC/MS quantitation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smoked meat

In biological matrixes lipid material often poses an interference problem for determinations of nonpolar compounds, e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A newly developed supercritical fluid extraction plus adsorbent method, "SFE-plus-C(18)", offers selective extraction of PAHs in lipid-rich biological matrixes without the need for supplementary cleanup. This method eliminates the use of large volumes of toxic solvent and lengthy lipid removal procedures. This study reports the first application of the SFE-plus-C(18) method to the analysis of a genuine food product, i.e., smoked meat (beef). The procedure employs the addition of C(18) adsorbent beads to the initial sample slurry of pureed smoked meat prior to supercritical CO(2) extraction and GC/MS quantitation. During SF extraction, indigenous lipids are preferentially retained on the beads, and PAHs are selectively extracted with supercritical CO(2). In a comparison of determinations of PAHs by SFE-plus-C(18) vs the conventional SFE method, only 11-17% of the indigenous lipids observed by the conventional SFE method were co-extracted using the SFE-plus-C(18) method. The PAHs in smoked meat could thus be determined efficiently in the presence of a reduced background of co-extracted lipids. Out of 10 targeted PAHs, seven were detected with a range of 10.0-26.0 ng/g in the smoked meat sample. The other three PAHs were not present above the detection limit of the instrument (2.5-4.1 pg). The recoveries of PAHs obtained using the conventional SFE method were 63-94% lower than those achieved by SFE-plus-C(18).     

耦合浮珠-超声辅助溶剂萃取法用于微藻采收及油脂提取

为了优化微藻生物柴油生产工艺,开发高效低耗的微藻采收与油脂提取技术,该研究使用优化浮珠浮选工艺对小球藻进行采收,随后选取小球藻-表面层状聚合物浮珠聚集体进行破壁提油处理,并通过响应面优化破壁工艺,建立一种新型耦合浮珠-超声辅助溶剂萃取工艺。结果表明,在超声时间为13 min,正己烷：异丙醇体积比例为4,微藻质量浓度为13.6 g/L,超声功率为254 W时,油脂提取效率较高,为18.91%。相比传统气浮法与超声辅助溶剂萃取法,该法采收效率、细胞破壁效率和饱和脂肪酸含量都达到了较高水平,分别为98.36%、90.19%和37.03%。因此,耦合浮珠-超声辅助溶剂萃取工艺是一种有效提取小球藻细胞中油脂的工艺。研究结果为微藻生物柴油制备工艺的发展提供科学依据。     

Lipid [corrected] classes, fatty acids, and sterols in seafood from Gilbert Bay, southern labrador

Seafood from Gilbert Bay, southern Labrador, was sampled for lipid classes, fatty acid, and sterol composition. Gilbert Bay is a proposed Marine Protected Area, and the composition of seafood from this region is interesting from both human health and ecological perspectives. Analyses included four species of bivalves and flesh and liver samples from four fish species. Lipids from a locally isolated population of northern cod (Gadus morhua) were also compared to lipids from other cod populations. Lipid classes were analyzed by Chromarod/Iatroscan TLC-FID, fatty acids by GC, and sterols by GC-MS. Three cod populations had similar levels of total lipid per wet weight (0.6%) with triacylglycerols (TAG), sterols, and phospholipids comprising on average 13, 11, and 51%, respectively, of their total lipids. Fatty fish such as capelin and herring contained on average 8.4% lipid with 86% present as TAG. Fish livers from cod and herring showed opposite trends, with cod having elevated lipid (27%) and TAG (63%) and herring containing only 3.8% lipid and 20% TAG. Shellfish averaged 0.6% lipid; however, significant lipid class differences existed among species. Fatty acid analysis showed few significant differences in cod populations with on average 57% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), 18% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and 24% saturated fatty acids (SFA). Cod livers had lower PUFA (34%) and elevated MUFA (44%) relative to flesh. Bivalves averaged 25% SFA, 18% MUFA, and 57% PUFA, whereas scallop adductor muscle had the highest PUFA levels (63%). Bivalves contained 20 different sterols with cholesterol present as the major sterol (19-39%). trans-22-Dehydrocholesterol, brassicasterol, 24-methylenecholesterol, and campesterol individually accounted for >10% in at least one species. High levels of PUFA and non-cholesterol sterols observed in Gilbert Bay seafood demonstrate their positive attributes for human nutrition.     

Ability of amino acids, dipeptides, polyamines, and sulfhydryls to quench hexanal, a saturated aldehydic lipid oxidation product.

Hexanal is a common product arising from the oxidation of omega-6 fatty acids. Because aldehydic lipid oxidation products can react with food components, interactions between hexanal and sulfhydryl- and amine-containing compounds were determined. The polyamines, spermidine and spermine, and the sulfhydryl-containing compounds, glutathione and thioctic acid, decreased headspace hexanal concentrations < or =7.0%. Histidine was the only amino acid tested that was able to quench headspace hexanal. Histidine-containing dipeptides decreased headspace hexanal 3.0-8.5-fold more than histidine. Hexanal quenching by the hisitidine-containing dipeptides increased as the size of the aliphatic side group of the amino acid adjacent to histidine increased, with Leu-His having the greatest hexanal quenching activity. The ability of Leu-His to quench histidine increased with increasing pH. The ability of histidine-containing dipeptides to interact with hexanal suggests that it may be possible to design peptides to alter the concentration of saturated aldehydes in oxidizing lipids.     

Quantitative Characterization of Polar Lipids from Wheat Whole Meal,Flour, and Starch

Lipids constitute only a minor proportion of total flour components but the composition and structure of wheat flour polar lipids influence the end‐use quality of bread. So it is important to determine which specific lipid class and molecular species are present in wheat. Lipid profiling is the targeted, systematic characterization and analysis of lipids. The use of lipid profiling techniques to analyze grain‐based food has the potential to provide new insight into the functional relationships between a specific lipid species and its functionality. The objective of this study was to utilize lipid profiling techniques to quantitatively determine the polar lipid species present in whole wheat meal, flour, and starch. Two commonly grown wheat cultivars, Alpowa and Overley, were used in this study. Direct infusion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify and quantitatively determine 146 polar lipid species in wheat. The predominant polar lipid classes were digalactosyldiglycerols, monogalactosyldiglycerols, phosphatidylcholine, and lysophosphatidylcholine. ANOVA results concluded that the wheat fraction contributed a greater source of variation than did cultivar on total polar, total phospholipid, and total galactolipid contents. Wheat whole meal, flour, and surface starch contained greater concentrations of total galactolipids, whereas internal starch lipids contained greater concentrations of monoacyl phospholipids. This research provides evidence that lipid profiling will provide the ability to determine the functional relationships between specific lipid species and the impact on end‐use quality.     

Hydroxytyrosol prevents oxidative deterioration in foodstuffs rich in fish lipids

Hydroxytyrosol, a natural phenolic compound obtained from olive oil byproduct, was characterized as an antioxidant in three different foodstuffs rich in fish lipids: (a) bulk cod liver oil (40% of omega-3 PUFAs), (b) cod liver oil-in-water emulsions (4% of omega-3 PUFAs), and (c) frozen minced horse mackerel ( Trachurus trachurus) muscle. Hydroxytyrosol was evaluated at different concentration levels (10, 50, and 100 ppm), and its antioxidant capacity was compared against that of a synthetic phenolic, propyl gallate. Results proved the efficiency of hydroxytyrosol to inhibit the formation of lipid oxidation products in all tested food systems, although two different optimal antioxidant concentrations were observed. In bulk oil and oil-in-water emulsions, a higher oxidative stability was achieved by increasing the concentration of hydroxytyrosol, whereas an intermediate concentration (50 ppm) showed more efficiency, delaying lipid oxidation in frozen minced fish muscle. The endogenous depletion of alpha-tocopherol and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) was also inhibited by supplementing hydroxytyrosol in minced muscle; however, the consumption of the endogenous total glutathione was not efficiently reduced by either hydroxytyrosol or propyl gallate. A concentration of 50 ppm of hydroxytyrosol was best to maintain a longer initial level of alpha-tocopherol (approximately 300 microg/g of fat), whereas both 50 and 100 ppm of hydroxytyrosol were able to preserve completely omega-3 PUFAs. Hydroxytyrosol and propyl gallate showed comparable antioxidant activities in emulsions and frozen fish muscle, and propyl gallate exhibited better antioxidant efficiency in bulk fish oil.     

Comparison of lipid content and Fatty Acid composition in the edible meat of wild and cultured freshwater and marine fish and shrimps from china

The lipid content and fatty acid composition in the edible meat of twenty-nine species of wild and cultured freshwater and marine fish and shrimps were investigated. Both the lipid content and fatty acid composition of the species were specified due to their unique food habits and trophic levels. Most of the marine fish demonstrated higher lipid content than the freshwater fish, whereas shrimps had the lowest lipid content. All the marine fish and shrimps had much higher total n-3 PUFA than n-6 PUFA, while most of the freshwater fish and shrimps demonstrated much lower total n-3 PUFA than n-6 PUFA. This may be the biggest difference in fatty acid composition between marine and freshwater species. The cultured freshwater fish demonstrated higher percentages of total PUFA, total n-3 PUFA, and EPA + DHA than the wild freshwater fish. Two freshwater fish, including bighead carp and silver carp, are comparable to the marine fish as sources of n-3 PUFA.     

Improved automated extraction and separation procedure for soil lipid analyses

Analysis of soil lipids may contribute to an improved understanding of atmosphere to soil carbon fluxes, soil organic matter source differentiation and pollutant accumulation. Soil lipids, mostly originating from plants and microorganisms, have traditionally been analysed by non‐automated extraction and separation methods, which produce several lipid fractions, operationally defined by polarity. Here we present a combination of fast, automated and reproducible techniques, adopted from organic geochemical studies, for preparative separation of individual soil lipid fractions with increasing polarity. These techniques involve commercially available instruments, including accelerated solvent extraction and a two‐step automated medium‐pressure liquid chromatography procedure. The method yields eight lipid fractions consisting of five fractions fully amenable to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols, carboxylic acids), and three fractions of highly polar or high molecular weight compounds (bases, very long‐chain wax esters (C40₊), high polarity compounds) that were not measurable with GC/MS under standard conditions. We tested the method on five agricultural soils. Results show that (i) mass recoveries for the individual fractions are reproducible, (ii) within individual fractions compound distribution patterns are reproducible, as demonstrated for alkanes and carboxylic acids, and (iii) individual fractions represent distinct and clean compound classes, free of interfering substances detectable by GC/MS. Thus, automated separation can be a fast, effective and reproducible procedure for fractionation of complex mixtures of soil lipids into clean compound classes, directly suitable for a variety of molecular (e.g. GC/MS) and isotopic characterizations (e.g. gas chromatography coupled with isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometry or accelerator mass spectrometry).