ALGAL PHOSPHOLIPIDS BY P-31 NMR - COMPARING ISOPROPANOL PRETREATMENT WITH SIMPLE CHLOROFORM METHANOL EXTRACTION/

1. A modified Folch procedure [potassium (ethylenedinitrilo)-tetraacet ic acid at pH 6 substituted for KCl] is suitable for the extraction of marine algae. 2. The quantitative P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance pho spholipid profiles of four marine algae, Gracilaria verrucosa, Bryotha mnion triquetrum, Padina gymnospora, and Caulerpa sertularioides, were obtained from Folch and Nichols extractions of both fresh and dried a lgae, and essentially identical results were obtained using either ext raction procedure. 3. Extracts of air-dried algae are statistically di fferent when compared to extracts of living algae, suggesting that tis sue handling is a critical factor in phospholipid extractions.