Isolation of Biopterin-alpha-glucoside from Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis and Its Physiologic Function

: A fluorescent substance was isolated from the cyanobacterium with a yield of 4.5 mg per 10 g of dried Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis cells by gentle extraction and ethanol fractionation followed by column chromatography. The fluorescent substance, which has absorption maxima at 256 nm and 362 nm (pH 8.4), was identified as biopterin-alpha-glucoside by spectrophotometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Biopterin-alpha-glucoside prevented decolorization of the photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, and carotenoids in photosynthetic vesicles of Spirulina platensis cells, by ultraviolet irradiation.