Enzymatic modification of flax seed oil and palm based blends in the preparation of table margarine formulation
Evaluation of ternary mixtures of palm stearin (PS), palm kernel oil (PKO) and flax seed oil (FS) for their suitability as base stocks for table margarine formulations were conducted. Transesterification of the oil blends was catalysed by Lipozyme IM lipase (Novozymes, Denmark) at 45 °C, 200 rpm for 6 h. The physical and chemical properties of the transesterified oil were evaluated by slip melting point (SMP), solid fat content (SFC), differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In comparison with non-transesterified products, the transesterified products reduced the SMP values between 12% and 20%. All transesterified blends gave no residual SFC at 35 °C. Transesterified PS:PKO:FS blend at 54:36:10 ratio had 32% SFC at 10 °C indicating that the products had good spreadability at refrigeration temperature. DSC and HPLC analysis showed that transesterification of PS:PKO:FS with Lipozyme IM lipase had significantly reduced the high 
melting glycerides of the blends. This is reflected in the SMP values and SFC profiles of transesterified blends.
Effect of enzymatic transesterification on the melting points of palm stearin-sunflower oil mixtures
Transesterification with lipases may be used to convert mixtures of fats to plastic fats, making them more suitable for use in edible products. In our study, 1,3-specific (Aspergillus niger, Mucor javanicus, Rhizomucor miehei, Rhizopus javanicus, and Rhizopus niveus) and nonspecific (Pseudomonas sp. and Candida rugosa) lipases were used to transesterify mixtures of palm stearin and sunflower oil (PS-SO) at a 40:60 ratio in a solvent-free medium. The transesterified mixtures of PS-SO were analyzed for their percentage free fatty acids (FFA), degree and rate of transesterification, solid fat content, slip melting point (SMP), and melting characteristics by differential scanning calorimetry. Results indicated that Pseudomonas sp. lipase produced the highest degree (77.3%) and rate (50.0 h−1) of transesterification, followed by R. miehei lipase at 32.7% and 27.1 h−1, respectively. The highest percentage FFA liberated was also in the reaction mixtures catalyzed by Pseudomonas sp. (2.5%) lipase and R. miehei (2.4%). Pseudomonas-catalyzed mixtures produced the biggest drop in SMP (13.5°C) and showed complete melting at below body temperature. All results indicated conversion of the PS-SO mixtures to a more fluid product. The findings also suggest that the specificity of lipases may not play a significant role in lowering the melting point of the PS-SO mixtures.
Lupin alkaloids from teratogenic and nonteratogenic lupins. II. Identification of the major alkaloids by tandem gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in plants producing crooked calf disease.
The major alkaloids of lupin plants producing crooked calf disease were identified by tandem gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and infrared analysis. The gas chromatography peak invariably present in teratogenic plants proved to be anagyrine. A minor but irregular contaminant of the peak was α-isolupanine. Other alkaloids present but apparently not associated with crooked calf disease were lupanine and two others that were probably epimethoxylupanine and 5,6-dehydrolupanine.