Minor constituents of the acetone-soluble lipids of red-clover (Trifolium pratense) leaves

Abstract

The acetone-soluble lipids of red-clover (Trifolium pratense) leaves have been shown to contain minor amounts of sterol esters, triglycerides, diglycerides, free sterols and hydrocarbons. These lipids are present to the extent of 0.57,1-50,0-.60, 0.80 and 0.38% of the total extract respectively. The free and combined sterols contain [beta]-sitosterol and the hydrocarbons consist of members of a homologous odd- and even-numbered series, C15 to C25, the C25 compound predominating. The fatty acid compositions of fractions show that the diglycerides contain over 50% of palmitic acid, whereas the sterol esters and triglycerides have linoleic acid and linolenic acid as their main constituents.