Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta macroalgae: A source of health promoting phytochemicals

A detailed study of the lipophilic composition of Codium tomentosum, Ulva lactuca, Gracilaria vermiculophylla and Chondrus crispus macroalgae cultivated in the Portuguese coast was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry before and after alkaline hydrolysis. Their long-chain aliphatic alcohols and monoglycerides compositions are reported for the first time. Additionally, other new compounds were also identified: phytol and neophytadiene in C. tomentosum, U. lactuca and G. vermiculophylla and stigmasterol, α-tocopherol and 24-methylenecholesterol in C. tomentosum. The lipophilic fraction of the studied macroalgae are mainly constituted by fatty acids (110.1-1030.5 mg kg−1 of dry material) and sterols (14.8-1309.1 mg kg−1 of dry material). C. tomentosum showed to be a valuable source of stigmasterol (1229.0 mg kg−1 of dry material) and α-tocopherol (21.8 mg kg−1 of dry material). These results are a relevant contribution for the valorisation of these macroalgae species as sources of valuable phytochemicals.