EISMANN, Alejandra Irina et al. Carotenoid content in Ulva lactuca cultivated under aquaculture conditions and collected from intertidal beds in southeastern Brazil: biotechnological implications for biomass use and storage. []. , 50, e3461.   24--2025. ISSN 0185-3880.  https://doi.org/10.7773/cm.y2024.3461.

^a

Ulva lactuca is an edible green macroalga (Chlorophyta) that can be produced in cultivation systems; it is a natural source of high-value molecules. Ulva lactuca produces metabolites including carotenoids, which are pigments with antioxidant properties that are in high demand in the health and nutraceutical industries and improve the nutritional quality of U. lactuca biomass. We studied the carotenoid and chlorophyll content in U. lactuca thalli collected in 3 different environments in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: the intertidal beds of the urban beaches of Arpoador and Boa Viagem and a continental integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) facility. Carotenoid conservation was evaluated during 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks of storage. We compared the molecules in fresh U. lactuca collected during the dry season (July 2018) and rainy season (February 2019). The content of carotenoids, such as β-carotene + zeaxanthin, lutein + antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, and their derivatives (aurochrome and auroxanthin), were analyzed in 100% acetone extracts by ultraviolet visible (UV/vis) spectrophotometry and monitored by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). The extracts of dried U. lactuca produced in the IMTA facility presented higher pigment yields than the dried biomass collected from intertidal beds. Over 4 weeks of storage, carotenoids were well conserved in U. lactuca produced in the IMTA facility, in contrast to what was observed in U. lactuca collected from the intertidal beds, which showed carotenoid losses. In addition, we observed differences in carotenoid content between the dry and rainy seasons in U. lactuca collected from Boa Viagem Beach. However, the U. lactuca collected from Arpoador Beach or produced by the IMTA facility only exhibited significant differences in chlorophyll content. We conclude that U. lactuca produced by the IMTA facility constitutes a potential source of pigments such as β-carotene, lutein, and violaxanthin.

Ulva lactuca es una macroalga verde comestible (Chlorophyta) que puede ser producida en sistemas de cultivo, la cual es una fuente natural de moléculas de gran valor. Ulva lactuca produce metabolitos, incluyendo carotenoides, que son pigmentos con propiedades antioxidantes muy demandados en las industrias de salud y nutracéuticas, que mejoran la calidad nutricional de U. lactuca. Estudiamos el contenido de carotenoides y clorofilas en talos de U. lactuca recolectados en 3 ambientes del estado de Río de Janeiro, Brasil: en lechos intermareales de las playas urbanas Arpoador y Boa Viagem y en una instalación continental de acuicultura multitrófica integrada (AMTI). La conservación de los carotenoides se evaluó durante 1, 2 y 4 semanas de almacenamiento. Comparamos pigmentos de U. lactuca fresca recolectada en la temporada seca (julio de 2018) y en la de lluvias (febrero de 2019). Los contenidos de carotenoides, como β-caroteno + zeaxantina, luteína + anteraxantina, violaxantina, neoxantina y sus derivados (aurocrómo y auroxantina), fueron analizados en extractos de acetona 100% mediante espectrofotometría ultravioleta-visible (UV/vis) y monitoreados mediante cromatografía en capa fina (CCF) y resonancia magnética nuclear de protón (RMN-¹H). Los extractos de U. lactuca seca proveniente del AMTI presentaron mayores rendimientos de pigmentos que la biomasa seca de los lechos intermareales. Durante las 4 semanas de almacenamiento, los carotenoides fueron conservados en la U. lactuca proveniente del AMTI; la biomasa de U. lactuca de lechos intermareales mostró pérdidas de carotenoides. Observamos diferencias en el contenido de carotenoides entre la temporada seca y la de lluvias en la U. lactuca de la playa de Boa Viagem. Sin embargo, la U. lactuca de la playa de Arpoador o la instalación AMTI exhibió diferencias significativas solo en el contenido de clorofila. Concluimos que la U. lactuca proveniente del AMTI constituye una fuente potencial de pigmentos como β-caroteno, luteína y violaxantina.

: .

        · | |     · | |     · ( pdf ) | ( pdf )