CAROTENOIDS IN LICHENS IN VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE HIMALAYAS

Abstract

  Analysis of 22 lichens from the Himalayas gave the following carotenoids: α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, 3'-epilutein, hydroxyechinenone, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, lycopene-5, 6-epoxide, lutein epoxide, antheraxanthin, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, flavoxanthin, mutatoxanthin, capsochrome, apo-6'-lycopenal and, β-apo-10'carotenal.

  The total content of carotenoids ranged from 46.94 (Parmelaria thomsonii) to 123.80 μgg^-1 dry wt (Alectoria ochroleuca).