Rapid Identification and Relative Quantification of the Phospholipid Composition in Commercial Lecithins by 31P NMR

Abstract 31 P NMR analysis of samples prepared in a sodium cholate detergent system was used as a method for the identification and quantification of enzymatic hydrolysis products of lecithin. To precisely characterize all of the hydrolysis products from commercial lecithin, a series of enzymatic reactions of each phospholipid with phospholipase PLA1 were conducted and monitored by 31 P NMR at different times. Twenty‐six phosphorus‐containing hydrolysis products from six classes of phospholipids (PC, PI, PS, PE, PG, PA) were found and determined by 31 P NMR measurement. The impact of pH on the chemical shift values for these hydrolysis products was observed and reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of 31 P‐NMR chemical shift values for entire lyso‐phospholipids hydrolyzed from 6 classes of phospholipids. Rapid and routine analysis of phospholipid composition in commercial lecithins by 31 P NMR was achieved without the need of phospholipid standards.