Separation of polar lipids from soybean oil and cotton seed oil by one-step HPLC system. Biological activity of isolated lipids

Many epidemiological studies suggest that vegetable oils present a protective effect against atherosclerosis, in a preventive level. Although the atherogenic mechanism is not clear, a number of reports indicate that platelet activating factor (PAF) plays a critical role in atherogenesis. In this study, total lipids of two vegetable oils were separated into polar and neutral lipids. Total lipids, total polar lipids, and total neutral lipids were tested in vitro for their biological activity against washed rabbit platelets, that is their ability to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by PAF, or to cause platelet aggregation. Total polar lipids, which are more potent than total neutral lipids, were further fractionated by HPLC and each fraction was tested for its biological activity. The experimental data give an answer for the preventive protective effect of vegetable oils against atherogenesis.