Planta Med 2019; 85(18): 1488
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3399894
Main Congress Poster
Poster Session 1
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Isolation and characterization of bromophenolic compounds in the red alga Vertebrata lanosa

Authors

  • S Hofer

    1   Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

  • A Hartmann

    1   Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

  • U Karsten

    2   Institute of Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology & Phycology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059, Rostock, Germany

  • S Heesch

    2   Institute of Biological Sciences, Applied Ecology & Phycology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059, Rostock, Germany

  • M Ganzera

    1   Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 December 2019 (online)

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Vertebrata lanosa (L.) T.A.Christensen is a red alga that grows epiphytically on other algae, especially on the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. [1]. It is known to contain several bromophenols, compounds that are unique in the plant kingdom. Only marine organisms are able to biosynthesize them, as they have direct access to the bromide contained in seawater, but also by virtue of a rare enzyme called vanadium bromoperoxidase [2]. Some of these brominated molecules are thought to play a crucial role in the chemical protection of marine plants, but their functional role is not fully known [2].

In order to obtain deeper understanding of bromophenolic compounds in red algae, seven bromophenols were isolated from the methanolic extract of Vertebrata lanosa, collected in Brittany (France), by using various chromatographic techniques. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Among the isolated substances are compounds like lanosol, methylrhodomelol and 2,2ʹ,3-tribromo-3ʹ,4,4ʹ,5-tetrahydroxy-6ʹ-methoxymethyldiphenylmethane and other structurally similar compounds. A simultaneously developed high performance liquid chromatography assay was used to determine the content of each bromophenol in the alga and furthermore applied to screen for respective compounds in other red algal species, too.

In addition, these substances pose very interesting candidates for a pharmacological investigation in different assay systems as a broad range of relevant activities of bromophenolic compounds has been reported in literature, ranging from antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-thrombotic, anti-diabetic to anticancer effects [3].