Studies on the lipids of royal jelly

Abstract

A chromatographic study has been conducted on the lipid components of the food of queen larvae (royal jelly) of the honeybee, Apis mellifera L. In addition to previously characterized decanoic acid derivatives, this material is shown to contain small amounts of a number of uncharacterized hydroxy acid components, two of which have been isolated in crystalline form. The chromatographic properties of a number of decanoic acid derivatives are described. A useful relationship between retention time on gas-liquid columns and structure of the substituted decanoic acid derivatives, similar to the relationship described by Clayton for sterol derivatives, is discussed.