Estolide triglycerides ofTrewia nudiflora seed oil

Abstract
The seed oil ofTrewia nudiflora is known to contain glycerides of α‐kamlolenic (18‐hydroxy‐cis‐9,trans‐11,trans‐13‐octadecatrienoic) acid. We have shown that a large part of these glycerides contain estolides in which the hydroxyl group of α‐kamlolenic acid is esterified to a molecule of another acid, either a hydroxy acid or an ordinary fatty acid. By preparative thin layer chromatography, we isolated a series of tri‐, tetra‐, penta‐ and hexaacyl glycerols. By lipolysis and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, we isolated and characterized estolide‐linked fatty acids containing two acid moieties.