High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic Analysis of Neutral Lipids and Phospholipids in the Medicinal Leech Hirudo medicinalis and in Leech Conditioned Water

Abstract

High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used to determine neutral lipids and phospholipids in the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis. Whole bodies and anterior, middle, and posterior thirds were analyzed for lipids. The major neutral lipids found in the leech were free sterols and steryl esters, along with lesser amounts of free fatty acids and triacylglycerols. The major phospholipids were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Leeches showed no significant regional differences in the mean weight percent of the major neutral lipids and phospholipids. HPTLC was used to analyze neutral lipids and phospholipids that leeches released into deionized water (referred to as leech conditioned water or LCW) during 6 or 12 h of incubation. The major neutral lipid released into the water was free sterols, and the major phospholipids were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.

Keywords:

• Thin layer chromatography
• Neutral lipids
• Phospholipids
• Leech conditioned water (LCW)
• Hirudo medicinalis
• Densitometry

Acknowledgment

Danielle L. Martin was supported by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Senior Scientist Mentor Initiative Grant awarded to J. Sherma.