Photosynthetic pigments, lipids and phenolic compounds of three green algae isolated from freshwater ecosystem

Abstract

Three algal species Spirogyra neglecta, Pithophora oedogonia and Microspora indica belonging to family chlorophyceae, isolated from freshwater ecosystems were investigated for their photosynthetic pigments, phosphoglycolipids, neutral lipids and phenolic compounds. Results revealed a photosynthetic pigment pattern of chlorophyceae similar to that of higher plants. The main photosynthetic pigments present in the three algae were chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, xanthophylls, beta-carotene and lutein. Chlorophyllide B and a type of xanthophyll were detected only in Pithophora oedogonia and Microspora indica, and absent in Spirogyra neglecta. TLC profile for lipids showed presence of phosphoglycolipids such as monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine in the three algae studied. We also observed presence of neutral lipids such as esters, triglyceride, diglyceride and monoglyceride in three algae studied. Moreover, our study reported different types of phenolic compounds such as coumarin, flavonol, flavone, cinnamic acid and anthocyanin in the three algae studied. The presence of considerable amounts of photosynthetic pigment, lipids and phenolic compounds in all three algae studied may possess possible utilization for nutritional applications.