LIPID AND STEROL COMPOSITION OF THE FRESH-WATER ALGA SPIROGYRA-CRASSA(L) KUTZ (CHLOROPHYTA)

The freshwater alga Spirogyra crassa (L.) KUTZ belonging to Chlorophyt a, collected in a lake near Sofia, Bulgaria, was examined for its lipi d and sterol composition. The total lipid content was 52.7 mg g(-1) dr y wt. The main lipid classes were phospholipids (20.6 mg g(-1) dry wt) , followed by monogalactosyl diacylglycerols (17.9 mg g(-1) dry wt), d igalactosyl diacylglycerols (7.8 mg g(-1) dry wt) and triacylglycerols (6.4 mg g(-1) dry wt). The main sterols were sitosterol (59% of total sterols) and cholesterol (28%). The main fatty acid were palmitic, li noleic and linolenic. The alga contains also small amounts of arachido nic and eicosapentaenoic acids.