Carotenoids in some lichen species from Queensland (Australia)

Column and thin‐layer chromatography revealed the presence of the following carotenoids in the thalli of 17 lichen species from Queensland (Australia): α‐, β‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin, lutein, calthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, 3′‐hydroxyechinenone, canthaxanthin, lutein epoxide, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, mutatoxanthin, neoxanthin, capsochrome, fucoxanthinol, β‐apo‐10′‐carotenal, β‐citraurin, apo‐10′‐violaxanthal (new to lichens) and paracentrone. The total content of carotenoids ranged from 14.42 μg −1 dry wt. in Parmotrema cooperi to 56.66 μg −1 dry wt. in Pyxine pungens .