Plasmalogen Profiling in Porcine Brain Tissues by LC-MS/MS

Abstract

Plasmalogen, a functional glycerophospholipid, is known for its beneficial nutritional effects, such as anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation. As the porcine brain is a plasmalogen-rich resource, this study aimed to explore its potential for plasmalogen-based health food product development, with special attention on whether and how the industrial production processes influence the plasmalogen content and composition. In the present work, plasmalogens from different porcine brain products were investigated using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The results indicated that all the porcine brain products showed abundant total plasmalogens, of which more than 95% were ethanolamine plasmalogen species. Acetone precipitation, ethanol extraction, and drying did not significantly affect the plasmalogen content, whereas repeated freeze-thaw cycles in the production process led to noticeable loss. The chemometric investigation suggested that raw products and glycerophospholipid products exhibited different profiles; furthermore, the concentration step seemed to impact the plasmalogen composition. The nutritional assessment revealed that porcine brain products showed favorable values of multiple indexes, including PUFA/SFA ratio, n-6/n-3 ratio, thrombogenicity index, and unsaturation index, suggesting a health-beneficial value. The current study not only shows the feasibility of producing porcine brain-derived plasmalogens, but also provides possible strategies for developing and quality-controlling dietary plasmalogen supplements and healthcare products.