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Chemical characterization of the lipophilic extract of Hydrilla verticillata: a widely spread aquatic weed

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Abstract

The composition of the lipophilic extract from Hydrilla verticillata, the common aquatic weed collected from Sasthamkotta Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, south of the west coast of India, was investigated. The lake is a designated wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention since 2002. GC-MS study of the unsaponifiable lipophilic extract of H. verticillata confirmed the presence of 3,5,11,15-tetramethyl 1- hexadecen-3-ol (C20H40O) and phytol (C20H40O) as major components, and their structures were elucidated. Phytol and 3,5,11,15-tetramethyl 1- hexadecen3-ol are the two isomers of the diterpeneol (C20H40O) found in the unsaponifible lipophilic extract of H. verticillata and are formed by the hydrolysis of the alcohol moiety of chlorophyll. On quantification, an appreciable concentration of phytol (6.39 g Kg−1) was estimated. The feasibility to utilize H. verticillata to produce phytol is to be addressed by further studies since H. verticillata is considered as one of the world’s fast widely spread aquatic weeds on account of its numerous mechanisms of vegetative reproductions.

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Abbreviations

H. verticillata :

Hydrilla verticillata

Phytol:

3,7,11,15-teramethyl 2-hexadecen 1-ol

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Acknowledgments

The financial support received from the Government of Kerala to establish a new centre, Inter University Centre for Development of Marine Biotechnology (IUCDMB) is gratefully acknowledged

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inter University Centre for Development of Marine Biotechnology (IUCDMB), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, India, 682 016

    K. Byju, V. Anuradha, Emilda Rosmine, N. C. Kumar & S. M. Nair

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  1. K. Byju
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  2. V. Anuradha
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  3. Emilda Rosmine
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  4. N. C. Kumar
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  5. S. M. Nair
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Correspondence to S. M. Nair.

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Byju, K., Anuradha, V., Rosmine, E. et al. Chemical characterization of the lipophilic extract of Hydrilla verticillata: a widely spread aquatic weed. J. Plant Biochem. Biotechnol. 22, 304–311 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13562-012-0159-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13562-012-0159-5

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