Tricaprin occurs naturally in the seeds of Umbellularia californica, a hardwood tree native to North America.[6]
Production
Tricaprin and other
medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are either isolated from natural or
genetically engineered sources in the production of MCT oils,[5] or are synthesized on a large scale through the
esterification of medium-chain fatty acids with
glycerol, specifically capric acid in the case of tricaprin. These esterification reactions have been investigated with a focus on
enzyme catalysis as an alternative to traditional manufacturing processes that take place at high temperature and pressure, which result in poorer quality product at low yield. Compared to similar reactions used in the synthesis of other MCTs, tricaprin has a slow conversion rate from capric acid in the presence of
lipozyme.[7]
Tricaprin has been indicated as a possible drug to increase the production of
insulin and decrease the production of
androgen in the body when taken orally.[11] It, along with other medium-chain triglycerides, has been studied as a treatment option to prevent ruptures of
abdominal aortic aneurysm,[12] and has been specifically studied as a regulator of
membrane functions[13] and in the
heart to facilitate
lipolysis.[14]
^Goodrum JW, Eiteman MA (April 1996). "Physical properties of low molecular weight triglycerides for the development of bio-diesel fuel models". Bioresource Technology. 56 (1): 55–60.
Bibcode:
1996BiTec..56...55G.
doi:
10.1016/0960-8524(95)00167-0.
^Ferreira IM, de Ganzeli L, Rosset IG, Yoshioka SA, Porto AL (January 2017). "Ethylic Biodiesel Production Using Lipase Immobilized in Silk Fibroin-Alginate Spheres by Encapsulation". Catalysis Letters. 147 (1): 269–280.
doi:
10.1007/s10562-016-1917-0.
ISSN1011-372X.