PHYCOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON FATTY-ACIDS FROM CERTAIN SEAWEEDS

A variety of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids has been isolated and identified from the chlorophytes Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh, Codium iyengarii B0rg. and Ulva fasciata Delile, the phaeophytes lyengaria stellata (B0rg.) B0rg., Spatoglossum variabile Figari el De Notar, and Stokeyia indica Thivy et Doshi and the rhodophytes Halymenia porphyroides B0rg., Hypnea musciformis (Wulfen) Lamour. and Odonlhalia washingtoniensis Kylin by GC-MS. Saturated fatty acids were present in much greater quantity than unsaturated ones. Palmitic and oleic acids were respectively the most commonly occurring saturated and unsaturated acids. The acids in seaweeds were found to be of lower molecular weight than those of higher plants. Caprylic was the smallest acid and parinaric the most unsaturated fatty acid isolated. The three groups of seaweeds exhibited little differences from one another. © 1990, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.