Lecithin is a synonym for phosphatidylcholine. It is the main lipid component in biological membranes, like our cell membranes or cell walls of plants. On the other hand, commercial lecithin is actually a natural mixture of neutral and polar lipids, including glycolipids, triglycerides, sterols, and small quantities of fatty acids, carbohydrates, and sphingolipids. The polar lipid Phosphatidyl choline is present in commercial lecithin in concentrations of 20 to 90%. Lecithin is a generic term to designate any group of yellow-brownish fatty substances occurring in animal and plant tissues, and in egg yolk, composed of phosphoric acid, choline, fatty acids, glycerol, glycolipids, triglycerides, and phospholipids (e.g., phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol). Lecithin is one of the principal natural emulsifiers for the industry. It is used in many products from food industrial chemicals to animal feed stuffs and pharmaceuticals. Lecithin is unique amongst natural emulsifiers for the sheer diversity of functions it performs in the food industry. Lecithin that contains phosphatidyl choline is produced mainly from vegetable sources, although it may also be found in animal and microbial sources. Majority of commercial lecithin sold in the market today come from soybean (mostly), sunflower, and grape seed. Soybean lecithin comprises of phospholipids and triglycerides with minor amounts of phytoglycolipids, phytosterols, tocopherols and fatty acids. Lecithin is anti-oxidant and emulsifying agent. The multi functional properties of emulsifying, wetting, colloidal and antioxidant properties make soya lecithin to be an ideal food ingredient. It is an emerging application as health protection food. Lecithin has been shown to lower total plasma cholesterol. Pharmaceutical industry uses lecithin in a number of formulations. For these applications, pure lecithin is needed, i.e. free of all other substances, primarily oil and fatty acids. Soy lecithin consists of three types of phospholipids; phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphotidylinositol (PI). It is extracted from soybean oil and is generally used as a natural emulsifier or stabilizer in various food applications. Lecithin's multifunctional properties and its `natural' status make it an ideal food ingredient in cake mixes, cheese, candy, salad products, chewing gum, chocolate, dehydrated foods and margarine on account of it emulsifying, wetting, colloidal and antioxidant properties. Lecithin is a combination of naturally-occurring phospholipids, which are extracted during the processing of soybean oil. The soybeans are tempered by keeping them at a consistent temperature and moisture level for approximately seven to 10 days. This process hydrates the soybeans and loosens the hull. The soybeans are then cleaned and cracked into small pieces and the hulls are separated from the cracked beans. Next, the soybean pieces are heated and pressed into flakes. Soybean oil is extracted from the flakes through a distillation process and lecithin is separated from the oil by the addition of water and centrifugation or steam precipitation. The present Indian demand is around 7500 tonnes per annum and the export demand around 10500 tonnes per annum where as the global demand is around 225,000 tonnes per annum according to estimate. Major Manufacturers • Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) • Degussa Texturant Systems (USA, Netherland, Germany) • Cargill • Lucas Meyer of Hamburg, Germany • Beijing Nanyuan Vegetable Oil Plant, China • Hellongjiang Anda Oil & Fat Plant, China • Qiqihar Xinghua Soya Bean, China • Nanjing Food Additive Plant, China • Lecithin Economic & Technology Development Corporation, China • Agro Solvent Products, Madhya Pradesh • Ruchi Group, Madhya Pradesh • Kriti Industries., Madhya Pradesh • Sakthi Soya, Coimbatore • Gujarat Ambuja Exports Ltd., Ahmedabad • Krishna Oil Extraction, Madhya Pradesh
