Distribution of dihomo-gammalinolenic acid within the thallus of the brown alga Sargassum pallidum (Turn.) C-Ag.

The fatty acid composition of large phylloids, small ones and air bladders of the brown alga Sargassum pallidum are reported. Different parts of the thallus of S. pallidum differed in content of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-6 family, especially in linoleic and dihomo-gammalinolenic acids (20:3 n-6). Small phylloids and air bladders contained much higher proportions of 20:3 n-6 (14.4 and 14.0 % of total fatty acids, respectively) as compared with large phylloids (2.1 %). The distribution of the main n-6 and n-3 polyenoic fatty acids among individual lipids of large phylloids and air bladders of this alga are reported. The triacylglycerols were rich in dihomo-gammalinolenic acid compared to other lipids.