IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN COCOA BEANS

SUMMARY: The lipids extracted from several common cocoa bean varieties were separated into neutral lipid, glycolipid, and phospholipid fractions. The composition of the total lipid extract was 98% neutral lipid and 1 to 2% oolar lioid of which aporoximatelv 70% was glycolipid and 30% was phospholipids. Two‐dimensional thin‐layer chromatography was used to separate all of the known major phospholipids. The relative distribution of the phospholipids was determined by quantitative phosphorus analyses of individual spots scraped from two‐dimensional thin‐layer plates. The major components were lysophosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and phosphatidyl inositol. Phosphatidyl choline was found to contribute 36 to 40% of the phospholipids of cocoa beans. The phospholipid composition of Accra, Arriba, and Bahia beans was shown to be quite similar although minor variations were observed. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved