Abstract
Lipids were extracted from Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen, which causes allergy in the spring. Determination was made of its fatty acids.
The major fatty acids found present were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, C18 : 1 n-9, C18 : 2 n-6, C18 : 3 n-3, C20 : 0, C20 : 3 n-6 and C20 : 4 n-6. The majority of total polyenoic acids in neutral and compound lipid fractions was the n-6 type.
These n-6 type fatty acids including C20 : 4 n-6 may function as precursors of lipid mediators in the inducement of cedar pollen allergy.
