Characterization of triacylglycerols in Madeira laurel oil by HPLC-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-MS

Madeira laurel oil was fractionated by liquid extraction combined with TLC, and TAGs were analyzed by HPLC coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization‐MS (APCI‐MS). Eluted molecular species compositions of the eluted TAG in the complex natural mixture were determined by GC identification of FAME and byLC‐atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)‐MS analysis of the lipid. The APCI‐MS spectra of most TAG exhibited [M+H]+ and [M−RCOO]+ ions, which defined the M.W. and the molecular association of fatty acyl residues, respectively. Despite the relatively high degree of saturation, with a saturated/unsaturated ratio of 0.70, no totally saturated TAG nor mixed asymmetric TAG with two saturated FA (SSM or SSU, where S is saturated, M is monounsaturated, and U is unsaturated) were found. This type of molecular structure provides a possible explanation for the relatively low m.p. (12–15°C) and also the high oxidative resistance observed.