Characterization of naturally occurring α‐hydroxylinolenic acid

Abstract

Abstract The seed oil of Thymus vulgaris L. (Labiatae) contains 13% of a new unsaturated hydroxy fatty acid which has been characterized as α‐hydroxylinolenic acid. This oil also contains the previously unknown norlinolenic (all‐ cis ‐8,11,14‐heptadecatrienoic) acid (2%) and linolenic acid (55%). The co‐occurrence of these three acids suggests that the C 17 acid is biosynthesized by α‐oxidation of linolenic acid.