Antioxygenic Properties of Lipids of Sea Urchin Gonads

Studies on Salted Sea Urchin Gonads Part VI

Abstract

The effect of lipids from sea urchin gonads on the autoxidation of methyl linolenate (MLn) was investigated. The residual MLn was determined by gas liquid chromatography during incubation of an oxidation system at 37°C in the dark. The additions of total lipids (TL) and neutral lipid fraction (NL) prolonged the induction periods of MLn autoxidation from 1 day of control system to about 10 days and 4 days, respectively. When glycolipid fraction (GL), phospholipid fraction (PL) or NL without tocopherol was added to the oxidation system, the induction period was not prolonged. The addition of combination of NL+GL+PL, NL+GL or NL+PL retarded the autoxidation of MLn, while the combination of GL+PL accelerated it. α-Tocopherol showed the same antioxidant activity as NL. PL decomposed MLn hydroperoxides at the initial stage of autoxidation. These results suggested that tocopherol retarded the autoxidation of lipids synergistically together with GL and PL during the storage of salted sea urchin gonads.