Analysis of the Mycosporine-Like Amino Acid (MAA) Pattern of the Salt Marsh Red Alga Bostrychia scorpioides.

Maria Orfanoudaki,Anja Hartmann,John West,Julia Vega,Markus Ganzera,Christine Maggs,Félix L Figueroa,Julia Mayr,Ricardo Bermejo

doi:10.3390/md19060321

Abstract

This study presents the validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method for the determination of different mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in the red alga Bostrychia scorpioides. The investigated MAAs, named bostrychines, have only been found in this specific species so far. The developed HPLC-DAD method was successfully applied for the quantification of the major MAAs in Bostrychia scorpioides extracts, collected from four different countries in Europe showing only minor differences between the investigated samples. In the past, several Bostrychia spp. have been reported to include cryptic species, and in some cases such as B. calliptera, B. simpliciuscula, and B. moritziana, the polyphyly was supported by differences in their MAA composition. The uniformity in the MAA composition of the investigated B. scorpioides samples is in agreement with the reported monophyly of this Bostrychia sp.

Highlights

IntroductionBostrychia scorpioides (Hudson) Montagne ex Kützing is one of the most common red macroalgae growing in coastal salt marshes in Europe [1], and the only one found in Europe of approximately 40 Bostrychia species that are known globally [2]
Ultrasound-assisted extraction of the plant material with 100% water as solvent was found to be most efficient, being the only procedure to enable the exhaustive extraction of all relevant compounds
The efficiency of the applied extraction procedure was confirmed as follows: a sample was prepared as described in Section 4.4 and after the extraction of the plant material once more, the supernatant was analyzed by HPLC

Summary

Introduction

Bostrychia scorpioides (Hudson) Montagne ex Kützing is one of the most common red macroalgae growing in coastal salt marshes in Europe [1], and the only one found in Europe of approximately 40 Bostrychia species that are known globally [2] It occurs on rocks, mud, and wood structures and partially as tufts on halophytes such as Halimione portulacoides in the upper and middle intertidal zones [3]. Mud, and wood structures and partially as tufts on halophytes such as Halimione portulacoides in the upper and middle intertidal zones [3] It can survive for a long period when exposed to air [1,4] by experiencing severe osmotic and desiccation stress. Unique mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) named bostrychines A–F occur instead of widely distributed derivatives such as porphyra-334 or shinorine [6]

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Conclusion