Lecithin CAS 8002-43-5

Lecithin has a broad and narrow sense, the narrow sense of lecithin refers to phosphatidylcholine, broadly speaking, lecithin refers to phospholipids containing phosphatidylcholine including PC, PE, PI (inositol phospholipids, phosphatidylinositol), PS (serine phospholipids, phosphatidylserines) and so on. Phosphatidylcholine is found in the brain, nervous tissue, liver, adrenal glands, and red blood cells, and egg yolks are particularly abundant (about 8%-10%), so it is called lecithin. Lecithin has two isomers, α and β, according to the different position of phosphoric acid and glycerol connection, and the lecithin in nature is α-type. Α carbon position is connected to almost saturated fatty acids, while β position is usually connected to unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and arachidonic acid. The nitrogenous organic base in lecithin that combines with phosphate is choline. The beta carbon atom of the glycerol portion of the lecithin molecule is a chiral carbon atom, resulting in two configurations, D-type and L-type. It is the L-type that exists in nature. This product is composed of several parts: phospholipid molecules, unsaturated fatty acids, choline and inositol. Lecithin in its pure form is a water-absorbent white waxy substance, which changes to a yellow or brown translucent waxy mass in air due to the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. The lecithin precipitated by acetone is granular or powdery. Soluble in petroleum ether, chloroform, ether, benzene and ethanol, insoluble in acetone, insoluble in water. It is hygroscopic, easily oxidized, and its color gradually becomes darker in the air. Lecithin is hydrolyzed to glycerol, unsaturated fatty acids, choline and phosphoric acid in the human body, in which the phosphoric acid group is hydrophilic and the fatty acid group is lipophilic, and these two groups make lecithin emulsifying. Physiological role of lecithin: constitutes the main component of the cell membrane, can promote cellular absorption of nutrients to eliminate toxic waste. It can assist the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and increase the utilization rate of such vitamins by 100%. Supplementation of sufficient lecithin can enhance cellular vitality, strengthen the body's immunity and resistance to disease. Powerful emulsifier, it can make the cholesterol and neutral fat in the blood break down into very small particles to facilitate the absorption and metabolism of tissues, thus preventing the deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels, preventing arteriosclerosis, hypertension and heart disease caused by cholesterol deposition. More typically a compatible molecule, involved in the composition of various lipoproteins. Indispensable for the catalytic action of various lipid-dependent enzymes. Related to the mechanism of action of hormones. It plays an important role in the transmission of nerve excitation. Sun Runguang et al. studied the electrical conductivity of lecithin-porphyrin-like metal complexes (complexes are now called coordination compounds, referred to as complexes).