Vernonia anthelmintica (L) willd. highly purified epoxy components from the seed oil

Abstract The chief component of Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) A Willd. (ironweed) seed oil, trivernolin, and its minor components, 1,3‐divernolin and vernolic (epoxyoleic) acid, have been produced in pound quantities of commercial grade quality (93‐99% pure). Refinement of these epoxy components to chromatographically pure compounds has now been accomplished. Trivernolin has been the most difficult, vernolic acid the easiest, to purify. To upgrade trivernolin to about 100% purity, a combination of procedures was necessary including extraction, low temperature crystallizations, adsorbent treatments, and column chromatog‐raphy, each monitored by thin‐layer chromatog‐raphy (TLC). Vernolic acid of 93.7% purity was highly refined by a single pass through a silicic acid column. Some physical characteristics of these epoxy compounds are given. None of the compounds were completely stable in storage as evaluated by Chromatographic procedures.