Carotenoids in Some Lichen Species from Ireland

Abstract Column and thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli of seven lichen species from Ireland: α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, 3'-epilutein, adonixanthin, α-doradexanthin, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein epoxide, neoxanthin and violaxanthin. The total content of carotenoids ranged from 11.9 μg g−1 dry wt in Menegazzia terebrata to 21·3 μg g−1 dry wt in Usnea rubicunda.