Sterols and polysaccharides in freshwater algae Spirogyra, and Mougeotia

Several species of freshwater green algae belonging to the order Zygnematal es (Spirogyra crassa (Ktz.) Czurda, S. condensata (Vauch.) Czurda, S. longa ta (Vauch.) Ktz., S. juergensii Ktz., S. olivascens Rabenh. and Mougeotia v iridis (Ktz.) Wittr.) were shown to have specific sterol content and charac teristic monosaccharide composition of the biomass. Polysaccharide fraction s were obtained by stepwise extraction of S, condensata and characterised b y a determination of monosaccharides liberated after acid hydrolysis. Actio n of amyloglucosidase was used to prove the presence of starch in algal bio mass. The main polysaccharide seems to be a complex mucilage composed of rh amnose, arabinose, xylose, galactose, and uronic acid, and the structure of this mucilage needs further investigation.