CAROTENOIDS IN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PSEUDOCYPHELLARIA GENUS FROM SOUTH AMERICA

Abstract

  Column and thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli of 20 species (39 specimens) of Pseudocyphellaria genus from various habitats on the South-America: α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, 3'-epilutein, zeaxanthin, lutein epoxide, antheraxanthin, echinenone, hydroxyechinenone, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, celaxanthin, citranaxanthin, reticulataxanthin, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, dinoxanthin, heteroxanthin, cryptoflavin, mutatoxanthin, chrysanthemaxanthin, auroxanthin, aurochrome, 3,4,3',4'-bisdehydro-β-carotene, capsochrome, rhodoxanthin, β-apo-2'-carotenal, β-citraurin, apo-6'-lycopenal and azafrin. In the thalli of all the 20 species of the Pseudocyphellaria genus β-carotene and astaxanthin were found as constant carotenoids.

  The total content of carotenoids ranged from 16.4 (specimen no. 27 of Pseudocyphellaria faveolata) to 95.9 µg g^-1 dry mass (specimen no. 8 of Pseudocyphellaria aurata).