Lipase catalysed transesterification of palm stearin with ferulic acid in solvent-free media

Recently, several scientific groups investigated the suitable enzymatic route for synthesis of structured phenolic lipids for cosmetic and nutritive purposes. The feruloylated palm stearin (FPS) was obtained from enzymatic transesterification reactions of palm stearin with ferulic acid in solvent-free media with 1 mmol of glycerol or without it, using non-specific lipases, NovoCor ADL (Candida antarctica lipase A); Novozyme435^® (Candida antarctica lipase B), and 1,3-specific lipase Lipozyme TL 100L from Thermomyces lanuginosus. The individual lipases and their combinational systems were examined. ESI⁺-MS/MS confirmed the formation of 19 feruloylated compounds. FPSs were produced by all lipases and their combinations. The positive synergetic effect occurred for 1,3-specific lipase and unspecified lipases with mass ratio 8:2, respectively. The antioxidant activities of all FPSs were examined. FPS produced by NovoCor ADL lipase in presence of free glycerol showed an antioxidant activity 10.3-times higher. In conclusion, the two low-cost lipases NovoCor ADL and Lipozyme TL 100L and its combi-lipase system could be considered suitable low-cost alternative to the expensive wide use N435 lipase in the solvent free production process of FPS for food and cosmetic applications.