PHYCOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON MICROSPORA FLOCCOSA (VAUCHER), THURET ALGA COLLECTED FROM THE PONDS OF HYDERABAD, SINDH

Abstract

Microspora floccosa (vaucher) Thuret is a rich source of fibers, vitamins and proteins. Present study was conducted to analyze the fatty acids and sterol composition of the fresh water green alga Microspora floccosa present in semi-permanent ponds near Hyderabad Sindh. The acids were isolated and then converted into methyl esters. Subsequently they were identified by GC-MS, which revealed the presence of methyl undecylate, myristate, tridecylate, pentadecylate, palmitate, margarate stearate and nonadecylate among saturated and methyl pentadecatrienoate, hexadecatrienoate and heptadecylenate among un-saturated fatty acids. Besides above two sterols such as 24-methylcholesterol and cholesterol were also identified through EI-mass spectrometry and 1H-NMR spectroscopy.