TY - JOUR AU - Zhou, Lei AU - Ngai, Josephine AU - Leung, Ivan AU - Tso, Mark OM AU - Lam, Kwok-wai PY - 2000/12/01 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - The nutritional value for human retina of lipids in Gou Qi Zi JF - Hong Kong Journal of Ophthalmology JA - Hong Kong J Ophthalmol VL - 4 IS - 1 SE - Leading Article DO - UR - https://hkjo.hk/index.php/hkjo/article/view/131 SP - 8-14 AB - <p><strong>Aims: </strong>To investigate whether <em>Gou Qi Zi </em>contains sufficient carotenoids and fatty acids to supply the special lipid requirements of the human retina.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Lipids were extracted from <em>Gou Qi Zi </em>by ethanol-hexane, then separated on a silica column and eluted by dioxane-hexane. The eluant was monitored by a photodiode array detector followed by a mass spectrometry detector.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Before hydrolysis, only one pigmented lipid was detected in the chromatogram. The molecular size was identical to that of dipalmityl zeaxanthin. The major non-pigmented lipids have the molecular size of triglycerides and diglycerides. After hydrolysis, a marked increase in oleic, linoleic acid, and long chain fatty acids with 22 and 24 carbons was observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The lipid content in <em>Gou Qi Zi </em>matches the specific requirements of the human retina for long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and zeaxanthin.</p> ER -