α- and β-carotene, and α-tocopherol in fresh seaweeds

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of 32 marine macro algae species, members of Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta, as sources of α-carotene, β-carotene and a-tocopherol. Both β-carotene and α-carotene were found in all species of green macroalgae analyzed. The maximum content of α-carotene was detected in algae belonging to Caulerpa genus and the minimum in Codium decorticatum. The amount of β-carotene found was minimum in Caulerpa mexicana and maximum in Ulva fasciata. Among the Rhodophyta species, eleven contain α-carotene, the maximum content was found in Botryocladia occidentalis. β-Carotene was found in all red macroalgae analyzed presenting the lowest and highest values in Gracilaria caudata and Bryothamnion triquetrum, respectively. Species of Phaeophyta contained β-carotene but no α-carotene. The lowest value for β-carotene was found in Dictyopteris delicatula and the highest in Padina gymnospora. In Chlorophyta, the amount of α-tocopherol was maximum in Codium decorticatum and minimum in Caulerpa prolifera. In Rhodophyta, twelve species contained α-tocopherol, the highest value was found in Enantiocladia duperreyi. α-Tocopherol was detected in all Phaeophyta species analyzed. The highest and lowest values were found in Lobophora varigata and Dictyota dichotoma, respectively.