The lipid class, fatty acid and sterol profiles of the bull kelp, Durvillaea potatorum were determined. Samples analysed included commercially dried kelp, fresh kelp collected using SCUBA and beach cast kelp. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ranged between 57% of the total fatty acids in the fresh sample to 22% in the beach sample. The major PUFAs were 18:3ω 3, 20:4ω6 and 20: 5ω3. PUFAs decreased while total saturated fatty acids (14:0,16:0,18: 0) increased from 12 to 44% with increasing drying time. Total lipid of fresh kelp was 13 mg g 1̄ dry weight, with polar lipid, sterol, triacylglycerol and hydrocarbon comprising 86, 9, 4 and 1 % respectively. Fucosterol was the major sterol found in this species. 24-Ethylcholesta-5,28(29)-dien-3β, 24-diol and four other unidentified sterols were also detected. Concentrations of both 24-ethylcholesta-5,28(29)-dien-3β,24-diol and the unidentified sterols increased with drying time. These sterols may prove useful biomarkers for D. potatorum in regional biogeochemical or foodweb studies.
History
Publication title
Phytochemistry: International Journal of Plant Biochemistry
Volume
37
Pagination
673-676
ISSN
0031-9422
Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
Publisher
Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd
Place of publication
The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England, Ox5 1Gb
Rights statement
Copyright 1994 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Repository Status
Restricted
Socio-economic Objectives
Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments