α-Carotene and β-carotene contents in dried marine macroalgae

The nutritional concern for marine macroalgae is due to their low caloric value and high content of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers. Carotenoids consist of a group of natural pigments. Over 700 have been already identified and classified and approximately 50 show vitamin A activity; however, β-carotene exhibits the highest biological activity. Fourteen species of marine macroalgae, belonging to Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta e Phaeophyta, have been analyzed for their provitamin A carotenoid content. The alga extraction was carried out in MeOH-H 2 O (90:10, v/v), followed by saponification and partitioning in n-hexane. The column Spherisorb S5 ODS 2 (4.6 x 250 mm) was used with MeOH-THF (90:10, v/v), delivered at 2 mL min -1 and detection at 450 nm. Among the studied species, the highest contents of provitamin A carotenoids have been found in green marine macroalgae.