[Lipid and fatty acid composition of Eisenia foetida]

It is found out that the content of lipids in the biomass of the studied populations of Eisenia foetida is rather high: 2.5-5.2% of the wet mass. The content of phospholipids is 40-55%, C27-sterols--1.5-3.4% of the mass of coarse extracts of lipids. Lipids of tissues contain also 47-54% of saturated (C10-C24) fatty acids as well as to 23% of monoene and to 13% of polyene unsaturated (C14-C22) fatty acids. The acids with the odd number of carbon atoms compose about 25% and acids with a branched carbon chain about 23% of the above percentage. Considerable content of lipids and biologically active fatty acids in tissues of the studied object permits considering it as a promising source of raw materials for production of valuable pharmacological preparations.