Análise de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados em macroalgas vermelhas da Antártica por Cromatografia Gasosa.

Abstract

The Antarctic macroalgal flora is characterized by low species richness in comparison with South American subantarctic regions. Algae of the Antarctic continent are characterized for producing high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids to maintain optimal conditions membrane. Currently, organisms that contain nutraceutical compounds of interest, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, have been the subject of numerous studies in the medical, pharmaceutical and bio-prospecting. The objective of our investigation is to determine the quantities of omegas present in algae red the species Pyropia endiviifolia, Palmaria decipiens, Plocamium cartilagineum and Irideae cordata of the continent Antarctic by gas chromatography (CG). The quantitative GC analyses have been a gas chromatograph GC/FID. The major unsaturated acids in the seed oils of all species were oleic acid (C18:1n-9c), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6c), α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3), y-linolenic acid (C18:3n-6) and eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n-6), occur also significant amounts of arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) in algae oils of all the examined species were found getting between 0,02mg/g DM to P. decipiens and 0,94mg/g DM for P. endiviifolia. High concentrations were found to eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3) in all species, being concentrations found: 65,72% of total FA in P. endiviifolia; 78,91% of total FA in P. decipiens; 52,78% of total FA in I. cordata and 21,04% of total FA for P. cartilagineum. In conclusion red algae investigated have potential of producing polyunsaturated fatty acid significant amounts of omega-3 and omega-6.