Chemical characterization of the introduced red alga Polyopes lancifolius (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta) from the Gulf of Morbihan, France

Polyopes lancifolius is an introduced species of Halymeniales (Rhodophyta) from Asia, discovered on the North Atlantic coast in 2008. In this study, a first biochemical description of the species from the Gulf of Morbihan (France) is presented. The overall biochemical analysis of the algal raw material showed levels of neutral sugars (25.14% dw), proteins (15.00% dw), lipids (2.30% dw) and ash (12.64% dw) similar to those observed in species of the genera Grateloupia and Halymenia (Halymeniales). The major mycosporin-like amino acids were the shinorine, palythine and porphyra-334. Matrix polysaccharides represented 62% of the alga. The extract contained a high level of 3,6-anhydrogalactose (44.26%) and a low level of sulphates (10.2%). Uronic acids were also identified in the polysaccharide extract (13.03% dw). Galactose (64.54%) and glucose (27.92%) were the two main monosaccharides. Physico-chemical analyses showed that P. lancifolius contained kappa-carrageenan. The chemical and spectrometry results suggested the presence of agarocolloids and glucans with a high diversity of compounds in the extract. The characterization of the polysaccharide families requires future study.