Carotenoids in lichens from the Antarctic

Abstract

Column-, and thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli of 33 lichen species from the Antarctic : α-carotene, β-carotene, δ-carotene, ε-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, echinenone, hydroxyechinenone, canthaxanthin, α-doradexanthin, β-doradexanthin, astaxanthin, lycopene-5,6-epoxide, lutein epoxide, antheraxanthin, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, auroxanthin, mutatoxanthin, and capsochrome. The total content of carotenoids ranged from 23.25 (Leptogium puberulum) to 123.50μg g^ dry wt (Polycauliona regalis).