Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta macroalgae: A source of health promoting phytochemicals

Abstract

A detailed study of the lipophilic composition of Codium tomentosum, Ulva lactuca, Gracilaria vermiculophylla and Chondrus crispus macroalgae cultivated in the Portuguese coast was carried out by gas chromatography mass spectrometry before and after alkaline hydrolysis. Their long chain aliphatic alcohols and monoglycerides compositions are reported for the first time. Additionally, other new compounds were also identified: phytol and neophytadiene in C. tomentosum, U. lactuca and G. vermiculophylla and stigmasterol, a tocopherol and 24 methylenecholesterol in C. tomentosum. The lipophilic fraction of the studied macroalgae are mainly constituted by fatty acids (110.1 1030.5 mg kg 1 of dry material) and sterols (14.8 1309.1 mg kg 1 of dry material). C. tomentosum showed to be a valuable source of stigmasterol (1229.0 mg kg 1 of dry material) and a tocopherol (21.8 mg kg 1 of dry material). These results are a relevant contribution for the valorisation of these macroalgae species as sources of valuable phytochemicals.