One-pot conjugated linoleic acid production from castor oil by Rhizopus oryzae lipase and resting cells of Lactobacillus plantarum

Abstract

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has attracted as novel type of fatty acids having unusual health-promoting properties such as anticarcinogenic and antiobesitic effects. The present work employed castor oil as substrate for one-pot production of CLA using washed cells of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) and lipases as catalysts. Among the screened lipases, the lipase Rhizopus oryzae (ROL) greatly assisted resting cells to produce CLA. Mass spectral analysis of the product showed that two major isomers of CLA were produced in the reaction mixture i.e. cis-9, trans-11 56.55% and trans-10, cis-12 43.45%. Optimum factors for CLA synthesis were found as substrate concentration (8 mg/mL), pH (6.5), washed cell concentration (12% w/v), and incubation time of 20 h. Hence, the combination of ROL with L. plantarum offers one pot production of CLA selectively using castor oil as a cost-effective substrate.

Key words:

• castor oil
• conjugated linoleic acid
• Rhizopus oryzae
• Lactobacillus plantarum

Acknowledgments

Abid Ali Khaskheli greatly acknowledges the National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh for providing monthly stipend to carry out this research work. No further funding was available.

Notes

Abbreviations: CLA, linoleic acid; ROL, Rhizopus oryzae; L. plantarum, Lactobacillus plantarum.