MASS-SPECTROMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF VERNONIA-GALAMENSIS OIL

Vernonia galamensis seed oil is a natural source of epoxidized triacylglycerols, which consist of 52% trivernolin and a mixture of other triacylglycerols. Epoxidized oils are used for industrial applications, such as coatings and plastic formulations. To determine the major molecular species present in Vernonia oil, desorption chemical ionization/mass spectrometry and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry were used to determine its glyceride composition. Seven triacylglycerols predominated: divernoloylarachidonate, trivernolin, divernoloylstearate, divernoloyloleate, divernoloyllinoleate, dilinolenoyl vernolate and divernoloylpalmitate.