Phlorotannin

A phlorotannin is a type of tannin found in brown algae such as kelps and rockweeds[1] or sargassacean species[2]. Contrary to hydrolysable or condensed tannins, these compounds are oligomers of phloroglucinol[3] (polyphloroglucinols)[4]. Phlorotannins are further classified as fucols, phlorethols or fuhalols.

Examples of such compounds are fucodiphlorethol G from the seaweed Ecklonia cava[5], eckol from Ecklonia species[6] or phlorofucofuroeckol-B from Eisenia arborea[7].

The reason why brown algae produce phlorotannins is still unclear. They may have a role in plant defense or resource dynamics[8] or in metal sequestration[9] or a protection against light (UV radiations)[10] or act as an algicide against dinoflagellates[11].

References

  1. ^ Phlorotannin allocation among tissues of northeastern Pacific kelps and rockweeds. Kathryn L. Van Alstyne, J. Phycol., 1999, 35, pp. 483–492
  2. ^ Seasonal variation of phlorotannin in sargassacean species from the coast of the Sea of Japan. Kamiya Mitsunobu, Nishio Takeshi, Yokoyama Asami, Yatsuya Kousuke, Nishigaki Tomokazu, Yoshikawa Shinya and Ohki Kaori, Phycological Research, Volume 58, Number 1, January 2010, pp. 53-61
  3. ^ Local and chemical distribution of phlorotannins in brown algae. Toshiyuki Shibata, Shigeo Kawaguchi, Yoichiro Hama, Masanori Inagaki, Kuniko Yamaguchi and Takashi Nakamura, Journal of Applied Phycology, Volume 16, Number 4, pp. 291-296, doi:10.1023/B:JAPH.0000047781.24993.0a
  4. ^ Quantitative studies on brown algal phenols. II. Seasonal variation in polyphenol content of Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. and Fucus vesiculosus (L.). Mark A. Ragan and Arne Jensen, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Volume 34, Issue 3, 1978, pp. 245-258, doi:10.1016/S0022-0981(78)80006-9
  5. ^ Isolation of a New Phlorotannin, Fucodiphlorethol G, from a Brown Alga Ecklonia cava. Young Min Ham, Jong Seok Baik, Jin Won Hyun and Nam Ho Lee, Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 2007, Vol. 28, No. 9, 1595
  6. ^ Protective effect of phlorotannin components phloroglucinol and eckol on radiation-induced intestinal injury in mice. Changjong Moon, Sung-Ho Kim, Jong-Choon Kim, Jin Won Hyun, Nam Ho Lee, Jae Woo Park and Taekyun Shin, Phytotherapy Research, Volume 22, Issue 2, February 2008, pp. 238–242
  7. ^ Isolation of a new anti-allergic phlorotannin, phlorofucofuroeckol-B from an edible brown alga, Eisenia arborea. Yoshimasa Sugiura, Kohji Matsuda, Yasuhiro Yamada, Masashi Nishikawa, Kazufumi Shioya, Hirotaka Katsuzaki, Kunio Imai and Hideomi Amano, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 70, 60417-1-5, 2006
  8. ^ Induction of phlorotannin production in a brown alga: defense or resource dynamics? Veijo Jormalainen, Tuija Honkanen, Riitta Koivikko and Janne Eränen, OIKOS 103, 2003, pp. 640–650
  9. ^ Lack of phlorotannin induction in the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum in response to increased copper concentrations. Toth G. and Pavia H. Marine ecology. Progress series, 2000, vol. 192, pp. 119-126
  10. ^ Influence of light and nitrogen on the phlorotannin content of the brown seaweeds Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus. Henrik Pavia and Gunilla B. Toth, Hydrobiologia, Volume 440, Numbers 1-3, pp. 299-305
  11. ^ Algicidal effect of phlorotannins from the brown alga Ecklonia kurome on dinoflagellates. Koki Nagayama, Toshiyuki Shibata, Ken Fujimoto, Tuneo Honjo and Takashi Nakamura, Aquaculture, Volume 218, Issues 1-4, 27 March 2003, pp. 601-611, doi:10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00255-7

External links

Types of tannins
Types
Hydrolysable | Condensed | Phlorotannins | Flavono-ellagitannins (complex tannins)
Tannin uses
Other
Tannin sources
Miscellaneous
Types of phlorotannins (tannins in brown algae)
Monomer
Classes
Fucols | Phlorethols | Fuhalols | Halogenated phlorotannins
Unclassified molecules
Eckol | Dieckol | Fucodiphlorethol G | Phlorofucofuroeckol-B