Fatty Acid Compositions of Lipids in Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) and Maca (Lepidium meyenii)

Abstract

Cat's Claw and Maca, both imported from Peru, were fractionated. The compositions of the total lipid fractions and fatty acids composing the lipid fractions were investigated. The five major fatty acids commonly detected in Cat's Claw and Maca were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, C18 : 1 n 9, C18 : 2 n 6 and C18 : 3 n3. The lipid fractions obtained from Cat's Claw were primarily composed of these five fatty acids, with, in addition to C14 : 0 and C20 : 0. The lipid fractions obtained from Maca were primarily composed of these five fatty acids plus C18 : 1 n7. A specific relationship between C18 : 1 n 9 and C 18 : 1 n 7 was seen in the TL and NL fractions derived from Maca. The percentage of C18 : 3 n 3 was also high in the fractions extracted from Maca.The n 6 /n 3 ratio and S. A. /UnS. A. (Saturated fatty acids/Unsaturated fatty acids) ratio were high in all the lipid fractions obtained from Cat's Claw but low in the fractions derived from Maca.