Apolar Compounds in Seaweeds from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Northeastern Coast of Brazil)

Leandro De Santis Ferreira,Eurico Cabral Oliveira Filho,Pio Colepicolo,Izabel Cristina Casanova Turatti,Ricardo Clapis Garla,Thais Guaratini,Norberto Peporine Lopes

doi:10.1155/2012/431954

Abstract

Hyphenated techniques of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer were used to determine fatty acids in eleven species of seaweeds from Fernando de Noronha archipelago. The main compounds detected in all studied species were the alcohol phytol and the fatty acids 14 : 0; 15 : 0; 16 : 0; 18 : 0; 18 : 1 n9; 18 : 2 Δ9,12; 20 : 4; 20 : 5. These fatty acids are commonly found in seaweeds present in warm regions. Thus, we found no specificity in the presence of a particular set of fatty acids and the studied species indicating that they are not useful as taxonomic indicators. However, they could be used in a comparative study with algae found in polluted area because many of the studied seaweeds are widespread and Fernando de Noronha has low human influence.

Highlights

Seaweeds are key ecological factors in shallow marine areas forming the base of the trophic web and structuring ecosystems especially on consolidated substrata
The studies to determine the fatty acids profiles started some years before and many of them focused on the use of these compounds as biomarkers for chemotaxonomy, though their concentration may be susceptible to environmental interference [11,12,13,14]
Other approaches using fatty acids have explored the effects of industrial effluents and environmental variables on the amount and quality of fatty acids produced [19, 20] and their role in food assimilation by herbivorous invertebrates [21]

Summary

Introduction

Seaweeds are key ecological factors in shallow marine areas forming the base of the trophic web and structuring ecosystems especially on consolidated substrata. They are known by the production of many bioactive compounds. At : Asparagopsis taxiformis; Gr : Galaxaura rugosa; Db : Dichotomaria obtusata; Dm : Dichotomaria marginata; Do : Dictyurus occidentalis; Cv : Caulerpa verticillata; Dc : Dictyota cervicornis; Dj : Dictyopteris justii; S : Sargassum sp.; Pg : Padina gymnospora; Dp : Dictyopteris plagiogramma. As part of a broader research project aimed to study chemical compounds of seaweeds from Fernando de Noronha, is provided baseline information on the fatty acids produced by eleven species commonly found in the archipelago

Experimental

Results and Discussion

Conclusion