Characterization of bovine rumen liquor isoprenoid hydrocarbons with reference to dietary phytol.

The isoprenoid hydrocarbon, trans-phyt-2-ene (82.2%), phyt-1-ene (6.5%), and phytane (11.3%), were detected in bovine rumen liquor by means of AgNO3-impregnated thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and infrared spectrophotometry. The unsaturated hydrocarbons were identified by comparing their chromatographic, physical, and chemical properties with those of synthetic isoprenoid hydrocarbons prepared from dihydrophytol. The natural level of the original isoprenoid components within the rumen is comprised of phytol and dihydrophytol (of the ratio of 2:1). These represented at least 60% of the total free fatty alcohol content of the rumen liquor lipid extract and could, therefore, be the origin of the isoprenoid hydrocarbons observed.