Profiling of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in wild Hypnea spp. and semi-closed cultivated Hypnea musciformis (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from the Colombian Caribbean

Mycosporine-like amino acids are marine natural products with significant ultraviolet radiation absorption capacity, positioning them as promising candidates for the cosmetic industry. This study aims to evaluate the MAAs content in wild-type Hypnea spp. (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from the Colombian Caribbean and explore an experimental semi-closed cultivation of H. musciformis . Hypnea species were collected from the Colombian Caribbean Sea. H. musciformis was cultured under semi-closed laboratory conditions, with variations in sodium nitrate concentration (5 mM to 25 mM) and light incidence (white light, PAR = 30 and 106 μmol.m −2 .s −1 , or a mix of blue and white light, PAR = 106 μmol.m −2 .s −1 ). Polar extracts of wild-type and cultured samples were analyzed by UHPLC-DAD and UHPLC-MS/MS to establish the profile and quantify the MAAs. Concentrations exceeding 2 mg.g −1 DW were found in H. cf. caraibica , with trace-level presence in H. valentiae and no detectable MAAs in H. cervicornis and H. spinella . The highest MAAs content (6.22 mg.g −1 DW) was observed in H. musciformis . Overall, shinorine was the most abundant MAAs, followed by palythine, asterine-330, and porphyra-334. Cultured samples revealed only trace-level MAAs. The abundant species H. musciformis collected at Santa Marta Bay may constitute a promising source of MAAs, particularly shinorine. However, laboratory cultivation of this species did not yield significant amounts of these compounds. As this cultivation stage was exploratory in nature, further laboratory trials are required to identify the variables that may enhance MAA production, such as increased UV exposure.