Abstract:
Pigments and fatty acid composition of four algal species, Caulerpa sertulariodies, Chaetomorpha media, Enteromorpha intestinalis and Ulva fasciata belonging to the Chlorophyceae, isolated from marine ecosystems were investigated for their pigments and fatty acid composition. Results revealed a pigment pattern similar to that of higher plants. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyllide-B, neoxanthin, violaxanthin and lutein were detected in all the four alga studied, while phaeophytin B and phaeophorbide B were detected only in Enteromorpha. Loroxanthin, a carotenoid which has been reported from various species of Chaetomorpha and Ulva was not detected in the present study. Antheraxanthin was also not found in Ulva but present in all other algae studied. Fatty acid profile showed the presence of saturated fatty acids such as lauric acid (C12:0), myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) and unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2) and linolenic acid (C18:3) in all investigated species. The Chlorophyta comprise the most modern group and this is supported primarily by occurrence of C18 fatty acids typical of the vegetative tissue of higher plants. Presence of large number of pigment and fatty acid may have possible value for nutritional purpose.
