Abstract
11′-α-Tocomonoenol (11′-αT1) is structurally related to vitamin E and has been quantified in the microalgae Tetraselmis sp. and Nannochloropsis oceanica. However, it is not known whether 11′-αT1 is present in other microalgae independent of species and origin. The aim of this study was to analyze the tocochromanol profiles of Chlorella sorokiniana, Nannochloropsis limnetica, and Tetraselmis suecica and to determine if 11′-αT1 is present in these microalgae. Cultured microalgae were freeze-dried and the presence and identity of α-tocomonoenols were confirmed by LC-MSn (liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy) and GC-MS (gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy). Tocochromanol profiles were determined by HPLC-FLD (liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection) and fatty acid profiles (as fatty acid methyl esters; FAME) by GC-MS. As confirmed by LC-MSn and GC-MS, 11′-αT1 was the dominant αT1 isomer in cultured microalgae instead of 12′-αT1, the isomer also known as marine-derived tocopherol. αT1 represented less than 1% of total tocochromanols in all analyzed samples and tended to be more abundant in microalgae with higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In conclusion, our findings confirm that αT1 is not restricted to terrestrial photosynthetic organisms, but can also accumulate in microalgae of different species, with 11′-αT1—and not the marine-derived tocopherol (12′-αT1)—as the predominant αT1 isomer.
Highlights
Microalgae have been proposed as sustainable food sources to reduce land use competition [1] and as micronutrient-rich alternatives to marine products [2]
Nannochloropsis limnetica is mainly used in aquaculture [12] and animal feed [13], while Tetraselmis suecica is used in aquaculture, as feed, and to prevent bacterial infections [14,15]
We previously reported the presence of αT1 in cyanobacteria (Arthrospira platensis) and microalgae (Nannochloropsis oceanica, Tetraselmis sp. and Chlorella vulgaris) collected from tropical zones in Costa Rica
Summary
Microalgae have been proposed as sustainable food sources to reduce land use competition [1] and as micronutrient-rich alternatives to marine products [2]. Microalgae are used in the production of foods, dietary supplements, and food additives [3,4,5] due to their contents of micronutrients, high-quality protein, bioactive compounds [6], and polyunsaturated fatty acids [7]. Chlorella sorokiniana is used for human consumption [8], as feed in aquaculture [9], and as a source of bioactive compounds [10,11]. Foods 2022, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW Foods 2022, 11, 396 2 of 13 2 of 12. Vitamin E comprises a group of eight lipid-soluble compounds (tocopherols and totrcoeocfteorriteVrreiniedtonaltomso)lsiacn)socmtEoompccooopcsmohesdrpeordomisfoeafasnacoahclshrg.orrBomoamuaspeandnoooloflrneirniitnghggheatantttluatipamccihdhbee-edsdrotatlonuodabalp1e16o6c-s-cociatamirrobbpnooosnnuonssfiidmddseeecc(thhthoaayciilnong,p,rcchoooeullrllpoeescclsttaiitvvateenhlldyye rcehfreorrmedantoolarsintogc, oαc-h, rβo-m, γa-n, aonlsd. Itnheadsiddieticohnaitno hTaasnbdeeTn3,daensocrthibeerdgraonudpnoafmtoecdotcohcroommoannooelsnboelsar(iTn1g) a[1s6i]n.gle double bond in the siTdwecohdaiinffehraesnbt eiseonmdeersscorifbαeTd1a(nFdignuarme 1e)dhtaovcoembeoennoreenpoolsrt(eTd1i)n[1th6]e. scientific literature, nameTlwy o1d2i′f-fαe-rteonctoimsoomneoresnoofl α(T121′-(αFiTg1u)r,eo1r)ihgianvaellbyeetnerrmepeodrtemdairninthe-edsecriievnetdifictolictoeprahteurroel, n(MamDeTly) a1n2d-αc-htaorcaocmteornizoeednobly(1a2te-αrmT1in),aolrdigoiunballleybtoernmdebdetmwaereinnep-doesritivioendst1o2co′ apnhder1o3l ′(MofDthTe) aanlkdylchcharaaincte[1r8iz],edanbdy1a1′t-eαrTm1i,nwalitdhoaubdloeubbolendbobnedtwbeeetwn epeonsictaiorbnosn1s211a′nadn1d312o′f[t1h9e].aBlkoythl cαhTa1inco[1n8g]e,naenrds a1r1e-bαiTo1a,vwaiiltahblae dinouhbulme abnosnd[18b]e,t1w2e′-eαnTc1ahrbasonbsee1n1 daensdcri1b2ed[1a9s].aBpootthenαtTia1l cboionagcetniveerscoamrepboiuonadva[2il0a]b,laenidn1h1u′-mαTa1nsis[t1a8k]e,n1u2p-αbTy1lihvaers cbeellesnanddesmcreibtaebdolaiszeadpsiomteinlatrialyl btoiotahcetipvreecdoommpinoaunntdv[i2ta0m], ainndE 1c1on-αgeTn1eirsαtaTk[e2n1]u.p by liver cells and metabolized to the predominant vitamin E congener αT [21]
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