A brief review of physiological roles, plant resources, synthesis, purification and oxidative stability of Alpha-linolenic Acid

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) comprising of 18 carbon atoms and three double bonds. Because the first double bond counted from the methyl terminus, is at position three, ALA belongs to the so-called n-3 group. Derived mainly from natural plants such as Linum usitatissimum and Perilla frutescens, it is an essential fatty acid for the human body. ALA is essential for the regulation of blood lipid, blood pressure...