Investigations on carotenoids in lichens XXVII. Carotenoids in lichens from north Africa and SE Spain

Abstract

Column and thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli of 12 lichen species from the North Africa and SE Spain: a-carotene, p-carotene, a-cryptoxanthin, P-cryptoxanthin, lutein, 3'-epilutein, zeaxanthin, diatoxanthin, lycopene-5,6-epoxide, the first record from lichens, Pcarotene epoxide, lutein epoxide, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, mutatoxanthin, neoxanthin, astaxanthin, O-apo10'-carotenal and apo- 12'violaxanthal. The total content of carotenoids ranged from 17,20 Ramalina hourgeana to 72,52 pg g-' dry weight Roccella canariensis.

Cromatografía en columna y capa fina revela la presencia de los siguientes carotenoides en el talo de 12 especies de líquenes recolectados en el norte de Africa y SE España: a-caroteno, p-caroteno, a-criptoxantina, P-criptoxantina, luteina, 3'-epiluteina, zeaxantina, diatoxantina, licopeno-5, 6-epoxido, nuevo en líquenes, Pcaroteno epóxido, luteina epóxido, anteraxantina, violaxantina, mutatoxantina, neoxantina, astaxantina, P-apo1 0'-carotenal y apo- 12'-violaxantal. El contenido total de carotenoides oscila entre 17,20 en Ramalina hourgeana y 72,52 pg g-' del peso seco en Roccella canariensis.