Merck, P7443-1G, L-α-Phosphatidylcholine

General description
L-α-Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is an asymmetric molecule with glycerol backbone and occurs naturally in lecithin of egg yolk. It is a phospholipid and major choline source in mammalian cells. It is crucial for very low-density lipoprotein secretion in hepatocytes. It is essential for the acetylcholine synthesis functions to nourish the brain. PC plays a crucial role in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Deficiencies of enzymes in PC biosynthetic pathway leads to an array of metabolic disorder. Intracellular levels of hepatic PC to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratio contributes to pathophysiology non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It has anti-inflammatory functionality and is effective in treating inflammatory bowel disease. PC administration therapy is effective for treating benign symmetric lipomatosis.
Application
L-α-Phosphatidylcholine has been used:
for liposome preparation
as a component of stabilizer solution for preparing dispersed curcuminoid submicron particle (CSP)
as a component of serum free substitute for whole blood cells

Biochem/physiol Actions
A major structural phospholipid in brain, comprising approx. 15% of total lipid; primarily localized to gray matter.
Packaging
Packaged under Argon
Preparation Note
Prepared by a modification of the procedure of Singleton, W.S., et al., J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 42, 53 (1965).