Evaluation of the Lipid Composition of Commercially Available Evening Primrose Products by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry

Figueiredo, Alisson L.; Santos, Patricia D. S.; Fernandes, Cleverton S.; Fernandes, Ingrid L.; Assakawa, Amanda C.; Basso, Ernani A.; Santos, Oscar O.

doi:10.21577/0103-5053.20240211

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Article • J. Braz. Chem. Soc. 36 (3) • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.21577/0103-5053.20240211 linkcopy

Evaluation of the Lipid Composition of Commercially Available Evening Primrose Products by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Evening primrose oil supplements are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, with emphasis on linoleic and γ-linolenic acids, being taken in the treatment and prevention of diseases, but mainly for the relief of symptoms caused by premenstrual tension and menopause in women. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of the lipid profile of evening primrose oil supplements using gas chromatography techniques with a flame ionization detector and mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. For this, eight commercially available national evening primrose oil brands were used. Of the eight samples analyzed, only two met all the standards established in legislation for fatty acids. The remaining capsules were subjected to triacylglycerol analysis and using a calibration curve the presence of soybean oil in the composition of the evening primrose oil capsules was verified. From the triacylglycerol with a mass/charge ratio of 901, it was possible to identify the addition of 31.16-85.88% of soybean oil in six of the eight capsules, leading the consumer to ingest products that did not comply with current legislation.

Keywords:
quantification; lipid profile; lipid marker; esterification; food supplements

Evening primrose supplement	State of origin	Ingredient	Extraction method	18:3n-6 (serving 2 capsules) / g	18:2n-6 (serving 2 capsules) / g
A	Santa Catarina	evening primrose oil, gelatin and glycerin	cold pressing	–	–
B	Paraná	evening primrose oil, gelatin and glycerin	cold pressing	0.1	0.8
C	São Paulo	evening primrose oil, gelatin, water and glycerin, gelling agent, DL-alpha tocopherol	cold pressing	0.1	0.8
D	São Paulo	evening primrose oil, gelatin, water and glycerin	cold pressing	–	–
E	Paraná	evening primrose oil, gelatin, glycerin and water	cold pressing	0.1	0.8
F	São Paulo	evening primrose oil, gelatin, glycerin and water	cold pressing	0.1	0.7
G	São Paulo	evening primrose oil, gelatin, water and glycerin	cold pressing	0.1	0.7
H	São Paulo	–	cold pressing + refinement	0.1	0.6
Standard EPO	São Paulo	evening primrose oil, gelatin, water and glycerin	cold pressing	0.1	0.7

FA	FA content / %								EPO legislation¹⁴ / %
FA	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	EPO legislation¹⁴ / %
16:0	11.00 ± 0.03^b	12.31 ± 0.01^b	7.77 ± 0.04^a	11.93 ± 0.13^b	12.36 ± 0.15^b	12.15 ± 0.17^b	7.51 ± 0.10^a	12.44 ± 0.25^b	4.0-10.0^a
18:0	4.33 ± 0.09^b	4.53 ± 0.05^b	2.76 ± 0.06^a	4.57 ± 0.04^b	5.11 ± 0.16^b	4.93 ± 0.08^b	2.80 ± 0.03^a	4.96 ± 0.11^b	1.0-4.0^a
18:1n-9	25.81 ± 0.06^b	24.94 ± 0.04^b	6.56 ± 0.11^a	26.82 ± 0.15^b	27.74 ± 0.33^b	26.91 ± 0.37^b	6.21 ± 0.05^a	26.59 ± 0.72^b	5.0-14.0^a
18:2n-6	48.17 ± 0.13^b	48.44 ± 0.15^b	74.27 ± 0.12^a	47.65 ± 0.20^b	45.95 ± 0.29^b	46.60 ± 0.45^b	74.82 ± 0.09^a	46.39 ± 0.79^b	65.0-85.0^a
18:3n-6	8.40 ± 0.04^a	7.91 ± 0.05^a	8.03 ± 0.01^a	7.43 ± 0.02^a	7.18 ± 0.08^a	7.70 ± 0.11^a	8.27 ± 0.04^a	7.83 ± 0.17^a	7.0-14.0^a

FA	FA content / %						SO legislation¹⁷ / %
FA	A	B	D	E	F	H	SO legislation¹⁷ / %
16:0	11.00 ± 0.03^a	12.31 ± 0.01^a	11.93 ± 0.13^a	12.36 ± 0.15^a	12.15 ± 0.17^a	12.40 ± 0.25^a	0.8-13.5^a
18:0	4.33 ± 0.09^a	4.53 ± 0.05^a	4.57 ± 0.04^a	5.11 ± 0.16^a	4.93 ± 0.08^a	4.96 ± 0.11^a	2.0-5.4^a
18:1n-9	25.81 ± 0.06^a	24.94 ± 0.04^a	26.82 ± 0.15^a	27.74 ± 0.33^a	26.91 ± 0.37^a	26.59 ± 0.72^a	17.0-30.0^a
18:2n-6	48.18 ± 0.13^a	48.44 ± 0.15^a	47.65 ± 0.20^b	45.95 ± 0.29^b	46.60 ± 0.45^b	46.39 ± 0.79^b	48.0-59.0^a
18:3n-6	8.40 ± 0.04^b	7.91 ± 0.05^a	7.43 ± 0.02^a	7.18 ± 0.08^a	7.70 ± 0.11^a	7.83 ± 0.17^a	3.5-8.0^a

Soy adulteration / %	Evening primrose concentration / %
0	100
20	80
40	60
60	40
80	20
100	0

Sample	Content of soybean oil found / %
A	69.01
B	52.36
D	40.90
E	31.16
F	85.88
H	60.29

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[TFN1] EPO: evening primrose oil; 18:3n-6: (γ-linolenic fatty acid, GLA); 18:2n-6: (linoleic fatty acid, LA).