FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF GREEN-ALGAE OF THE GENUS CAULERPA

The fatty acid compositions of six species of green algae of the genus Caulerpa-C. brachypus Harv., C. cupressoides (West in Vahl) Ag., C. m exicana Send. ex Kutz., C. serrulata (Forssk.) J. Ag., C. sertularioid es (Gmel.) Howe and Caulerpa sp. have been examined by capillary gas c hromatography. The major constituents were palmitic, alpha-linolenic, linoleic and hexadecatrienoic acids which together comprised more than 60% of the total fatty acids in each species. A high content of hexad ecatrienoic acid together with low concentrations of C-16 and C-18 tet raenoic acids were discriminating features of algae from this genus. C aulerpa species differ from other green algae by having low C-18 monou nsaturated acids content and approximately equal amounts of the omega 9 and omega 7 isomers.