ALGAL CAROTENOIDS 52 - SECONDARY CAROTENOIDS OF ALGAE-3 - CAROTENOIDSIN A NATURAL BLOOM OF EUGLENA-SANGUINEA

Quantitative carotenoid analysis of a natural bloom of Euglena sanguin ea Ehrenberg revealed the presence of beta,beta-carotene (1% of total carotenoids), monoesters of adonirubin (3%), diesters of (3S, 3'R)-ado nixanthin (13%), diesters of (3S, 3'S)-astaxanthin (75%), 19-monoester of (3R, 3'R, 6R)-loroxanthin (1%), (3R, 3R)-diatoxanthin (6%), diadin oxanthin (1%) and neoxanthin (traces) The carotenoid content amounted to 0.7% of the dry wt. Methods employed included TLC, HPLC, VIS, MS, C D and H-1 NMR (400 and 500 MHz). The high content of ketocarotenoids i s characteristic of secondary carotenoids produced under stressed grow th conditions. Previously secondary carotenoids were associated with g reen algae (Chlorophyceae), but have now been encountered in Euglenoph yceae.