Abstract
Algae are a complex, polyphyletic group of organisms, affordable and naturally rich in nutrients, but also valuable sources of structurally diverse bioactive substances such as natural pigments. The aim of this work was to evaluate the polar and non-polar pigment contents of different commercial dried algae (brown: Himanthalia elongata, Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria ochroleuca; red: Porphyra spp.; and a blue-green microalga: Spirulina spp.). The pigment extraction was carried out using different solvents (100% methanol, 100% methanol acid free, 100% ethanol, 90% acetone, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide-water (4:1, v/v) and pH 6.8 phosphate buffer), selected according to their affinity for each class of pigments. Acetone proved to be an efficient solvent to extract chlorophylls from brown and red algae, but not from Spirulina spp. Porphyra spp. presented considerably higher levels of all pigments compared to brown algae, although Spirulina spp. presented significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins, compared to all macroalgae. The content of fucoxanthin extracted from the three brown algae was highly correlated to the carotenoid content. Within this group, Himanthalia elongata presented the highest fucoxanthin/total carotenoids ratio. Although the yield of extraction depended on the solvent used, the algae studied herein are an interesting source of pigments of great value for a wide range of applications.
Highlights
The oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and contain a wide diversity of species, including marine algae [1,2]
The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of non-polar pigments and polar ones from three brown edible algae (Himanthalia elongata, Laminaria ochroleuca (Kombu), Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame)), a red one (Porphyra spp. (Nori)), and a microalga (Spirulina spp.), using a spectrophotometric technique
It is well established that acetone is normally the solvent of choice for chlorophyll determination due to the very distinct chlorophyll absorption peaks achieved when using this solvent
Summary
The oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and contain a wide diversity of species (approximately half of the total global biodiversity), including marine algae [1,2]. With over 40,000 species already identified, algae are currently classified into several taxonomic groups such as Chlorophyceae (green algae), Rhodophyceae (red algae), Phaeophyceae (brown algae), Cyanophyceae (cyanobacteria), Xanthophyceae (yellow-green algae), Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) and Dinophyceae (dinoflagellates) [2,3] Due to their global distribution, accessibility, diversity and nutritional value, algae have been a traditional food source for thousands of years, especially in Asian countries. Separations 2020, 7, 33 interest by Western cultures has been growing since algae started to be seen as affordable products and naturally rich in nutrients (such as proteins, dietary fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, products and andvitamins), naturally rich in nutrients (such as proteins, dietary fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals and as valuable sources of structurally diverse bioactive substances (e.g., minerals and vitamins), and as valuable sources of structurally diverse bioactive substances (e.g., polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, or natural pigments) with potential health benefits [2,4].
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