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Table 1 Fatty acid (FA) composition of macroalgal species.

From: Polyunsaturated fatty acids in various macroalgal species from north Atlantic and tropical seas

Fatty acid

n-Classification for unsaturated carbon

Ulva lactuca

Chondrus crispus

Laminaria hyperborea

Fucus serratus

Undaria pinnatifida

Palmaria palmata

Caulerpa taxifolia

Ascophyllum nodosum

Sargassum natans

  

μg FA per g dry matter (% of total fatty acid)

      

C14:0*

 

28 ± 13 (<1)

1170 ± 186 (8)

1297 ± 89 (7)

2354 ± 641 (6)

1163 ± 80 (6)

681 ± 56 (5)

236 ± 10 (2)

3027 ± 395 (7)

162 ± 24 (2)

C16:0*

 

2768 ± 808 (12)

2718 ± 186 (19)

3178 ± 173 (18)

7266 ± 1849 (19)

2935 ± 101 (16)

3500 ± 156 (25)

4942 ± 44 (39)

3693 ± 682 (8)

3006 ± 259 (41)

C16:1*

n-9

75 ± 61 (<1)

1512 ± 260 (10)

402 ± 57 (2)

566 ± 103 (1)

1147 ± 143 (6)

204 ± 47 (1)

443 ± 18 (4)

462 ± 74 (1)

325 ± 29 (4)

C16:3

n-3

119 ± 43 (1)

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

1085 ± 45 (9)

n.d.

n.d.

C16:4

n-3

429 ± 8 (2)

n.d.

n.d.

n.d

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

C18:0*

 

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

316 ± 42 (1)

147 ± 6 (1)

133 ± 21 (1)

n.d.

240 ± 79 (<1)

369 ± 44 (5)

C18:1*

n-9

4502 ± 2204 (20)

2437 ± 296 (17)

3616 ± 53 (20)

15387 ± 6147 (41)

2339 ± 99 (13)

298 ± 59 (2)

882 ± 58 (7)

23193 ± 4833 (54)

1095 ± 147 (15)

C18:1

unknown

919 ± 707 (4)

212 ± 35 (1)

n.d.

76 ± 91(<1)

n.d.

179 ± 26 (1)

222 ± 17 (2)

120 ± 42 (<1)

74 ± 85 (1)

C18:2*

n-6

5548 ± 2108 (25)

312 ± 26 (2)

398 ± 37 (2)

3081 ± 906 (8)

800 ± 24 (4)

125 ± 40 (1)

n.d.

4884 ± 236 (11)

230 ± 29 (3)

C18:3*

n-3

4459 ± 865 (20)

233 ± 30 (2)

n.d.

1065 ± 149 (3)

1195 ± 65 (7)

312 ± 152 (2)

2161 ± 119 (18)

688 ± 19 (2)

121 ± 17 (2)

C18:3

n-6

484 ± 128 (2)

396 ± 21 (3)

n.d.

225 ± 68 (1)

243 ± 16 (1)

n.d.

n.d.

235 ± 42 (<1)

n.d.

C18:4

n-3

1846 ± 1648 (8)

1735 ± 282 (12)

2287 ± 92 (13)

547 ± 117 (1)

2255 ± 240 (12)

346 ± 111 (2)

354 ± 14 (3)

869 ± 354 (2)

n.d.

C20:3

n-9

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

342 ± 116 (1)

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

378 ± 46 (1)

n.d.

C20:4

n-6

355 ± 219 (2)

2158 ± 284 (15)

2095 ± 290 (12)

4775 ± 1150 (13)

2943 ± 155 (16)

332 ± 136 (2)

439 ± 38 (3)

4592 ± 2986 (10)

581 ± 81 (8)

C20:5*

n-3, EPA

234 ± 215 (1)

1216 ± 135 (8)

4781 ± 327 (26)

1424 ± 251 (4)

2858 ± 128 (16)

8339 ± 340 (59)

997 ± 87 (8)

1569 ± 127 (4)

329 ± 38 (5)

C22:4

n-9

n.d,

398 ± 116 (3)

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

C22:5

n-6

610 ± 319 (3)

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

C22:6*

n-3, DHA

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

970 ± 109 (13)

C24:0

 

n.d.

n.d.

n.d

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

156 ± 204 (1)

n.d.

n.d.

Total

 

22387

14669

18054

37413

18191

14448

12592

44670

7262

 

Total n-9

21%

30%

22%

43%

19%

3%

11%

56%

19%

 

Total n-6

32%

20%

14%

22%

21%

3%

4%

22%

11%

 

Total n-3

32%

22%

39%

9%

35%

63%

38%

8%

20%

 

Ratio n-6: n-3

1.0

0.91

0.36

2.44

0.60

0.05

0.11

2.75

0.55

  1. Seven species were collected from the North Sea (U. lactuca, C. crispus, L. hyperborea, F. serratus, U. pinnatifida, P. palmata, A. nodosum) and two species from tropical seas (C. taxifolia, S. natans). Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation in μg FA per g dry matter (n = 4) and, between brackets, as relative concentration (in % of total FA). FAs marked with * are identified on the basis of retention index similarity of authentic standards and of mass spectrum comparison with a Whiley library data base of their methyl esters. Unmarked FAs are identified on the basis of mass spectrum comparison with a Whiley library data base. Abbreviations: EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5, n-3); DHA = docosahexaenoic acid(C22:6, n-3); n.d. = not detectable.