5,9-Nonadecadienoic acids in malvaviscus arboreus and allamanda cathartica

The phospholipid fatty acid composition of Malvaviscus arboreus DC. (Malvaceae) and Allamanda cathartica L. (Apocynaceae) was studied. The fatty acids, 17-methyl-5,9-octadecadienoic acid, 16-methyl-5,9-octadecadienoic acid, and 5,9-nonadecadienoic acid were identified in the phospholipid (mainly phosphatidylcholine) extract of M. arboreus by GC-MS. 17-Methyl-5,9-octadecadienoic acid was also identified in A. cathartica . This is the first report of iso - anteiso branched Δ5,9 fatty acids from a plant source.