In order to investigate of the Influence of Mg2+, Ca2+ on α-linolenic acid converted into the eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) forming in plasma lipid and in liver microsomes of rabbit, the animals were fed on the perila oil rich α-linolenic acid or sardine oil rich EPA and DBA diet for 4 weeks were examined. In plasma, liver lipid, Mg2+ was influenced on arachidonic acid(AA), EPA, DHA formative from α-linolenic acid in perilla oil, but stearic acid was increased, Ca2+ was Influenced on stearic acid increased and DHA was decreased. In phospholipid, Mg2+, Ca2+ was influenced on stearic acid increased and DHA was decreased in perilla oil.

To investigate the influence of saturated fats, α-linolenic acid, EPA and DHA on the lipid hydroperoxide concentration and fatty acid composition in liver microsomes and in plasma lipid of rabbits, the animals were fed on the perilla oil rich α-linolenic acid or sardine oil rich EPA and DHA diet for four weeks Were examined. The fatty acid composition of plasma lipid and liver microsomes of rabbits fed on the perilla oil diet was an accumulation of arachidonic acid(AA) 20:4 n-6, eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) 20:5 n-3, and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) 22:6 n-3, The fatty acid composition of plasma lipid and liver microsomes of rabbits fed on the sardine oil was an accumulation of α-linolenic acid(LNA) 18:3 n-3, and arachidonic acid(AA) 20:4. The p/s ratio of rabbits fed on the perilla oil diet changed from 7.4 to 2.27 for plasma lipid and 2.47 for liver microsomes. The concentration of lipid hydroperoxide was 3.48 nmol MDA/ml and 4.35 nmol MDA/ml for plasma lipid and liver microsomes, respectively, in perilla oil diet. The lipid hydroperoxide liver was 4.22 nmol MDA/ml and 67 nmol MDA/ml for plasma lipid and liver microsornes in sardine oil diet.

The Korean daily intake of vegetable oils has increased about 2.5-fold from 17 g/day to 46 g/day for the last several decades. Perilla (Perilla frutescens var. frutescens) has been cultivated in Korea for a long time as a dietary oil seed which has the highest content of α-linolenic acid, accounting for nearly 60%. It is known that the main role of ALA is as a precursor to the longer-chain ω-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the metabolic products of α-linolenic acid (ALA, ω-3). Dietary ω-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis, but they also may act as functional components for cognitive and behavioral function. Thus, α -linolenic acid is one of the essential nutrients in modern dietary patterns in which much linoleic acid is consumed. Nevertheless, perilla oil, rich in α-linolenic acid, can be easily oxidized, giving rise to controversies with respect to shelf life, the deterioration of the product’s commercial value, and further related toxicity. Recent research using genetic modifications has tried to develop new plant oil seeds that balance the ratio of ω-6/ω-3 fatty acids. Such trials could be a strategy for improving an easily oxidizable property of perilla oil due to high α-linolenic acid. Alternatively, appropriate application of antioxidant to the oil can be considerable.

Soybean has around 20% oil in total seed compound. Fatty acid concentration of soybean oil is about 12% palmitic acid, 4% stearic acid, 23% oleic acid (ω-9), 54% linoleic acid(ω-6) 54% and 8% linolenic acid(ω-3). To improve oxidative stability and quality of oil, the breeding programs mainly focused on reducing saturated fatty acids, increasing oleic acid and reducing linolenic acid in soybean oil. In plant oil, an essential fatty acid omega-3 fatty acid is in the form of α-linolenic acid (ALA) therefore, increasing ALA in soybean oil became one of the breeding goals for human health. In our research group, we have two breeding programs for concentration of ALA in soybean oil. Wild soybeans have almost twice ALA than that in cultivated soybeans. Introgression of alleles from wild soybean to cultivated soybean may lead to the increase of ALA in soybean seed oil for various applications. We developed several backcross populations by elite cultivars x wild soybean to select high ALA with good agronomic traits. In the case of low linolenic acid program, we developed an EMS (ethyl methane sulfonate) mutation population to select low ALA concentration line and found a mutant line with low ALA in seed oil. The scheme for developing high ALA concentration from wild soybean and molecular characterization for low ALA line will be discussed.