Carotenoids in some lichen species from South Africa, Madagascar and Cape Verde Islands

Column and thin‐layer chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli of 29 lichen species (33 specimens) from South Africa (Transkei), Madagascar and Cape Verde Islands: α‐carotene, β‐carotene, ϵ‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin, lutein, 3′‐epilutein, zeaxanthin 4′‐hydroxyechinenone, canthaxanthin, α‐doradexanthin, β‐doradexanthin, astaxanthin lutein epoxide, antheraxanthin, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, auroxanthin, mutatochrome, mutatoxanthin, cryptoflavin and capsochrome. The total content of carotenoids ranged from 19.4 ( Cladonia squamosa ) to 92.2 μg g −1 dry weight ( Teloschistes hypoglaucus ).