Carotenoid profile of three microalgae/cyanobacteria species with peroxyl radical scavenger capacity

Food Res Int. 2017 Oct;100(Pt 1):260-266. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2017.06.069. Epub 2017 Jun 29.

Abstract

Carotenoids from cyanobacteria Aphanothece microscopica Nageli and green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus were identified. The total carotenoid content, based on dry weight of biomass, of A. microscopica Nägeli, C. vulgaris and S. obliquus were 1398.88μg/g, 1977.02μg/g and 2650.70μg/g, respectively. A total of 23 different carotenoids were separated in all the extracts, the major ones being all-trans-β-carotene (29.3%) and all-trans-lutein (28.1%) in Scenedesmus; all-trans-echinenone (22.8%) and all-trans-β-carotene (17.7%) in Chlorella; all-trans-echinenone (28.3%) and all-trans-β-carotene (26.2%) in Aphanothece. The carotenoid extracts were shown to be a potent scavenger of peroxyl radical, with values of 31.1 (Chlorella), 14.0 (Scenedesmus) and 7.3 (Aphanothece) times more potent than α-tocopherol.

Keywords: Algae; Antioxidant capacity; Bioactive compounds; Blue-green algae; Carotenoids; HPLC-PDA-MS/MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomass
  • Carotenoids* / analysis
  • Carotenoids* / chemistry
  • Carotenoids* / metabolism
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cyanobacteria / chemistry*
  • Free Radical Scavengers* / analysis
  • Free Radical Scavengers* / chemistry
  • Free Radical Scavengers* / metabolism
  • Microalgae / chemistry*
  • Peroxides / analysis
  • Peroxides / metabolism*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Peroxides
  • perhydroxyl radical
  • Carotenoids