Carotenoids in representatives of the Protousnea (Parmeliaceae), endemic genus from South America

Abstract

Column, thin‐layer and reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli of 7 lichen species representatives of the Protousnea (Parmeliaceae) endemic genus from South America: α‐carotene, β‐carotene, retrodehydro‐β‐carotene, α‐cryptoxanthin, β‐cryptoxanthin, lycopene‐5,6‐epoxide, lutein, 3′‐epilutein, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, cryptoflavin, loroxanthin, capsochrome, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, 3‐hydroxyechinenone, adonixanthin, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, rhodoxanthin, citranaxanthin and torularhodin methyl ester. The total content of carotenoids ranged from 32.45 (Protousnea dusenii) to 48.21 μg g–1 dry weight (Protousnea teretiuscula). (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)