ABSTRACT
Most fatty acids are monocarboxylic and consist of an unbranched chain containing an even number of carbon atoms (Table 1). The homologous series of saturated fatty acids is represented by the general structure CH3ðCH2ÞnCOOH with the carboxy carbon designated carbon 1. The number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid can vary considerably from medium chain (C8-C10) to long and very long chain (C12 and up) although it is the long-chain ones that tend to predominate. The methyl and carboxy termini of the molecule are termed the omega (!) and delta () ends, respectively. These fatty acids can be saturated or unsaturated and in some cases may have additional functional groups. A notable characteristic of plants
is the high incidence of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and particularly those of 18 carbon atoms.
