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6.4 Biological Roles of Lipids and Oils
6.4.1 Structural Building
Lipids are considered as the bioactive molecules synthesized in living body. It is
working in different way such as multiple signaling pathways and main constituents
of the lipid bilayer. If any types of disturbance happened in the lipid metabolism can
leads to create disruption in biological pathways vis-à-vis cancer, metabolic disease
and neurological disorders (Misurcova et al. 2011; Stancu and Sima 2001). Fats and
oils are esters of glycerol contain three carbon sugar and three fatty acids which
creates various fatty acids on the bases of cis or trans positions of double bond. Fats
are solid at room temperature, while oils are usually liquid (Compher et al. 1997).
Fatty acids is a simple lipid and composed of long chain of hydrocarbon (R) and
hold carboxylic acids group (RCOOH) (IUPAC-IUB, 1977). There are two types of
fatty acid are found in nature saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty
acid contains single bond and possesses biological potential includes stimulation of
chloride and bicarbonate ion in colon, colonocyte proliferation, mucus production,
and control the growth of saprophytic bacteria in colon (Uauy and Dangour 2006).
Unsaturated fatty acids contain two or more double bond in their hydrocarbon chain,
it has great potential to living being, present in vegetable oils shows antiallergic
properties also used in cosmetology, medicine and pharmacy (Riccardi et al. 2004).
Oleic acid shows increase the HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio and decrease thrombocytes (Zak et al. 2007).
Phospholipids considered as biological molecules that display both structural
and functional roles in the human body. The utmost phospholipid present in the
plasma membrane is phosphatidylcholine or lecithin (60–70%), followed by sphingomyelin (10–20%). Minor phospholipids in plasma are phosphatidylserine (1–2%)
and phosphatidylinositol (1–2%) (Fless et al. 1984). Phosphatidylcholine shows
important role in the protein synthesis, cholesterol homeostasis, secretion, and triacylglycerol storage (Havel et al. 1955).
Glycolipids are presents in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and considered as
a amphiphilic molecules and heterogenous group of membrane-bound compounds.
It is crucial constituents of plasma membrane and performs various functions such
as signaling receptor, cell aggregation or dissociation, and immune response.
6.4.2 Lipoproteins
Lipoprotein (LP) characterizes as a class of structurally and functionally diverse
lipoprotein particles owing to the transport of cholesterol in blood plasma Lipids
along with protein circulate in the bloodstream called as lipoprotein, it consists
cholesteryl esters (60–70%) and triacylglycerol and considered as transport form of
lipids (Kontush and Chapman 2010). High-density-lipoprotein (HDL) is commonly
6 Fats and Oils as Sources of Bioactive Molecules
6.4 Biological Roles of Lipids and Oils
6.4.1 Structural Building
Lipids are considered as the bioactive molecules synthesized in living body. It is
working in different way such as multiple signaling pathways and main constituents
of the lipid bilayer. If any types of disturbance happened in the lipid metabolism can
leads to create disruption in biological pathways vis-à-vis cancer, metabolic disease
and neurological disorders (Misurcova et al. 2011; Stancu and Sima 2001). Fats and
oils are esters of glycerol contain three carbon sugar and three fatty acids which
creates various fatty acids on the bases of cis or trans positions of double bond. Fats
are solid at room temperature, while oils are usually liquid (Compher et al. 1997).
Fatty acids is a simple lipid and composed of long chain of hydrocarbon (R) and
hold carboxylic acids group (RCOOH) (IUPAC-IUB, 1977). There are two types of
fatty acid are found in nature saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty
acid contains single bond and possesses biological potential includes stimulation of
chloride and bicarbonate ion in colon, colonocyte proliferation, mucus production,
and control the growth of saprophytic bacteria in colon (Uauy and Dangour 2006).
Unsaturated fatty acids contain two or more double bond in their hydrocarbon chain,
it has great potential to living being, present in vegetable oils shows antiallergic
properties also used in cosmetology, medicine and pharmacy (Riccardi et al. 2004).
Oleic acid shows increase the HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio and decrease thrombocytes (Zak et al. 2007).
Phospholipids considered as biological molecules that display both structural
and functional roles in the human body. The utmost phospholipid present in the
plasma membrane is phosphatidylcholine or lecithin (60–70%), followed by sphingomyelin (10–20%). Minor phospholipids in plasma are phosphatidylserine (1–2%)
and phosphatidylinositol (1–2%) (Fless et al. 1984). Phosphatidylcholine shows
important role in the protein synthesis, cholesterol homeostasis, secretion, and triacylglycerol storage (Havel et al. 1955).
Glycolipids are presents in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and considered as
a amphiphilic molecules and heterogenous group of membrane-bound compounds.
It is crucial constituents of plasma membrane and performs various functions such
as signaling receptor, cell aggregation or dissociation, and immune response.
6.4.2 Lipoproteins
Lipoprotein (LP) characterizes as a class of structurally and functionally diverse
lipoprotein particles owing to the transport of cholesterol in blood plasma Lipids
along with protein circulate in the bloodstream called as lipoprotein, it consists
cholesteryl esters (60–70%) and triacylglycerol and considered as transport form of
lipids (Kontush and Chapman 2010). High-density-lipoprotein (HDL) is commonly
6 Fats and Oils as Sources of Bioactive Molecules