Quantification of carotenoids and chlorophylls in algae

Abstract

Chlorophylls (Chl) and carotenoid intake has been correlated with a chemoprotective effect (Ferruzzi and Blakeslee, 2007; Tanaka et al., 2012). They are abundant pigments in algae and were quantified in extracts from macroalgae mix biomass and pure strain of Lobophora variegate (L. variegate) collected from Las Canteras Beach (Gran Canaria). The contents of Chl a and b, β-carotene and lycopene were determined by extracting 500 mg of biomass with 5 mL of acetone-hexane (2:3) and measuring the absorption at 453, 505, 645 and 663 nm; Chl a and b, and total carotenoids were also quantified by extracting 500 mg of biomass with acetone-water (4:1), and recording the absorbance at 663.6 nm for Chl a, 646.6 nm for Chl b and 470.0 nm for total carotenoids. The effect of sonication on extraction yield was also studied (Branisa et al., 2014). Therefore, samples prepared as described above were sonicated before extraction.