ABSTRACT
Lipids, including oils and fats, are a chemically diverse group of compounds that are insoluble in water and have a variety of functions. Oils and fats are the principal stored forms of energy in many organisms, with phospholipids and sterols making up approximately half the mass of bio logical membranes. Other crucial lipids are enzyme cofactors, electron carriers, light-absorbing pigments, hydrophobic anchers, emulsifying agents, hormones, and intracellular messengers (1).
