Glycolipids in Oil Palm Leaf, Crude Palm Oil, Fiber, and Empty Bunch

Glycolipids were isolated from oil palm leaves, crude palm oil (CPO), fibers and an empty bunch, and were determined and purified by TLC. Glycolipids were identified in most cases by Rf values in TLC and coloring reactions. 1-Naphthol and perchloric acid were used to stain the glycolipids and steryl glycosides, respectively. The glycolipid composition was determined by both charring and staining followed by densitometry. Esterified steryl glycoside, monogalactosyl diglyceride, steryl glycoside (SG), cerebroside, digalactosyl diglyceride and sulfoquinovosyl diglyceride (SQDG) were the major glycolipids from the oil palm leaves, while, in CPO, SG and SQDG were not present. SQDG was also not present in the fibers or empty bunch. The fatty acid composition of each glycolipid in the oil palm leaves and CPO were also analyzed and compared for typical saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content. Among the saturated fatty acids, palmitic acid was found in both the oil palm leaves and CPO glycolipids. Among unsaturated fatty acids, linolenic acid was characteristic in the oil palm leaves, and oleic acid was present in CPO.