GLA (%) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 coenzyme Q10 + vitam<strong>in</strong> E β-carotene + vitam<strong>in</strong> E vitam<strong>in</strong> E 1 23 52 91 106 147 183 time (days) Fig. 1: Variation over time <strong>of</strong> storage <strong>in</strong> gamma l<strong>in</strong>olenic acid content <strong>of</strong> commercially produced even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils with antioxidants Laboratory prepared samples Two samples (even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oil with Origanox TM and even<strong>in</strong>g primrose with mixture antioxidants coenzyme Q10, β-carotene and vitam<strong>in</strong> E) were laboratory prepared. In the case both <strong>of</strong> samples the GLA content changed slightly over time <strong>of</strong> storage (Fig. 2). GLA (%) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 coenzyme Q10 + β-carotene + vitam<strong>in</strong> E Origanox 1 30 51 84 125 161 183 time (days) Fig. 2: Variation over time <strong>of</strong> storage <strong>in</strong> gamma l<strong>in</strong>olenic acid content <strong>of</strong> laboratory prepared even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils with antioxidants Sborník soutěže Studentské tvůrčí č<strong>in</strong>nosti Student 2006 a doktorské soutěže O cenu děkana 2005 a 2006 Sekce DSP 2006, strana 240
Compare all tested even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils The GLA content was similar for the all tested even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils and range <strong>of</strong> GLA was from 5 to 11 % <strong>of</strong> total fatty acids. The content <strong>of</strong> GLA decreased gradually dur<strong>in</strong>g time <strong>of</strong> storage. Compare <strong>of</strong> the GLA content <strong>in</strong> various tested even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils at first and last (183) day <strong>of</strong> storage is shown <strong>in</strong> Table 1. Maximum level GLA recorded virg<strong>in</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oil Arnaud <strong>in</strong> 147 day <strong>of</strong> storage (10,40 ± 0,17 %). M<strong>in</strong>imal amount GLA was found <strong>in</strong> the sample even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oil at 183 day <strong>of</strong> storage, which was stored under laboratory conditions (5,65 ± 0,06 %). Even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oil with antioxidant Origanox changed m<strong>in</strong>imally. Whereas, most losses recorded no-stabilized even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oil which was hold on laboratory conditions. Table 1: The content <strong>of</strong> GLA <strong>in</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils (first and last day <strong>of</strong> storage) Time <strong>of</strong> storage [days] Even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils 1 183 GLA [%] sr [%] GLA [%] sr [%] + Q10 + vitam<strong>in</strong> E 8,00 ± 0,10 1,27 7,39 ± 0,03 0,38 + β-carotene + vitam<strong>in</strong> E 8,47 ± 0,09 1,07 7,24 ± 0,10 1,39 + vitam<strong>in</strong> E 8,77 ± 0,00 0,01 7,75 ± 0,04 0,53 + Q10 + β-carotene + vitam<strong>in</strong> E 7,26 ± 0,18 2,44 7,00 ± 0,06 0,86 + Origanox 8,84 ± 0,04 0,43 8,72 ± 0,18 2,07 virg<strong>in</strong>, Arnaud 8,50 ± 0,14 1,63 8,01 ± 0,13 1,66 virg<strong>in</strong>, Gustav Heess 8,06 ± 0,05 0,68 7,63 ± 0,02 0,26 virg<strong>in</strong>, laboratory conditions 8,55 ± 0,00 0,04 5,65 ± 0,06 1,01 CONCLUSION Primrose is a pure natural vegetable oil processed from the seeds <strong>of</strong> the even<strong>in</strong>g primrose plant. Even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oil is higher <strong>in</strong> total essential fatty acids than any other vegetable oil. The oil conta<strong>in</strong>s 74 % l<strong>in</strong>olenic acid (LA) and 8-10 % gamma l<strong>in</strong>olenic acid (GLA). The purpose <strong>of</strong> this work was to f<strong>in</strong>d out and compare the <strong>in</strong>fluences <strong>of</strong> used antioxidants and time <strong>of</strong> storage <strong>in</strong> respect <strong>of</strong> the content <strong>of</strong> fatty acids <strong>in</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oil. Results <strong>of</strong> gas chromatography were statistically compared to determ<strong>in</strong>e the relationship between the stability <strong>of</strong> oils and the type <strong>of</strong> the antioxidant or the way <strong>of</strong> storage. A total <strong>of</strong> eight even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils (virg<strong>in</strong> or with addition <strong>of</strong> antioxidants - coenzyme Q10, β-carotene, vitam<strong>in</strong> E and Origanox) were considered. Various ways <strong>of</strong> storage were chosen for assessment <strong>of</strong> stability <strong>of</strong> oils. Methanol esterification method us<strong>in</strong>g potassium hydroxide catalysis was applied to oil for prepar<strong>in</strong>g fatty acids methyl esters. Gas chromatography (GC) was applied for the determ<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> fatty acids content (especially gamma l<strong>in</strong>olenic acid - GLA). The compounds were identified by their retention times relative to authentic standards Gamma l<strong>in</strong>olenic acid was present most <strong>of</strong>ten <strong>in</strong> concentration 7 – 9 % <strong>of</strong> total fatty acids <strong>in</strong> the samples <strong>of</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils. The content <strong>of</strong> GLA decreased gradually depend<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g time <strong>of</strong> storage. Even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oil, which was stored under laboratory conditions, showed the greatest losses GLA. Whereas, sample even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oil conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Origanox had m<strong>in</strong>imal changes. It was observed great dissimilarity GLA dur<strong>in</strong>g another way <strong>of</strong> storage <strong>of</strong> oils with addition antioxidants. Virg<strong>in</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g primrose oils have comparable levels <strong>of</strong> GLA. Sborník soutěže Studentské tvůrčí č<strong>in</strong>nosti Student 2006 a doktorské soutěže O cenu děkana 2005 a 2006 Sekce DSP 2006, strana 241