The composition of the lipid globules of Ilex aquifolium leaves and its variability with the age of the leaf and with season

The cytoplasmatic globules of Ilex aquifolium L. mainly consist of fatty acid esters of the triterpenoid alcohols α and β-amyrin. In very young leaves these are practically only palmitates. With increasing leaf age, increasing amounts of saturated and unsaturated C18 acids were found with comparatively high amounts of linoleic and linolenic acid in leaves of one year and older. Some accumulation of the triterpene precursor squalene was also observed with increasing age of the leaves. In addition to age effects, seasonal changes occur too. Independent of the age of the leaf, an increase in palmitic acid and a decrease in linoleic and especially linolenic acid was observed in the winter in mature leaves.