Abstract: The pupa of Dendrolimus superans has very high utilization value because of its large size. In order to definite the composition and content of fatty acids in pupa, and explore the optimal combination of extraction solvent and extraction method, pupa oil was extracted by 4 kinds of extraction methods (ultrasonic oscillation extraction, soxhlet extraction, and solvent extraction methods of hot soak and cold soak) in three kinds of extraction solvents (hexane, petroleum ether and ether) in this study. Capillary chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to analyze the composition and relative content of fatty acids. The results showed that the extraction rate using hot soak was the highest (25.60%) in hexane among the four extraction methods. Ten kinds of fatty acids were tested with each method except ultrasonic oscillation extraction (9 kinds were tested). The extraction rate using soxhlet extraction was the highest (29.31%) in petroleum ether among four extraction methods. Amount of 10 kinds of fatty acids extracted was equal using four extraction methods. The extraction rate using cold soak was the highest (29.11%) in ether among four extraction methods. Number of different kinds of fatty acids extracted was in the following order from high to low: cold soak (13) > soxhlet extraction (12) > hot soak (11) > ultrasound oscillation extraction (9). Unsaturated fatty acids accounted for more than 63% of total fatty acids, and their contents were not markedly influenced by the extraction solvent and different extraction methods. So it is proposed that the optimal extraction solvent and method for fatty acids in D. superans pupae are petroleum ether and soxhlet extraction.

Key words: Dendrolimus superans, pupa, fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, chromatographymass spectrometry