Constituents in Marine Algae-I

Seasonal Variation of Sterol, Hydrocarbon, Fatty Acid, and Phytol Fractions in Ulva pertusa

Abstract

The present paper describes the seasonal variation of constituents such as the sterol, hydrocarbon, higher fatty acid, and phytol fractions from the Ulva pertusa. 28-Isofucosterol and C₁₈-fatty acids were the major components throughout the year. The contents of 28-isofucosterol, cis-7-heptadecene, and C₁₈-fatty acids varied in a relatively parallel way during all seasons. The 28-isofucosterol content attained its maximum level in the winter months, while the cholesterol content was maximum in August. The 24-methylenecholesterol content was, consistently low in all seasons.
cis-7-Heptadecene was characteristically present in appreciable amounts, except during the summer months; the phytol content attained its maximum level in April. The palmitic acid content rapidly increased from early summer to July and then rapidly decreased to a negligible amount in September. Conversely, the C₁₈-fatty acid contents during the summer months were lower than those during the other seasons.
The correlation between the seasonal variation of these constituents and the growth of the algae is discussed.