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内容記述 |
Astaxanthin (C_<40>H_<52>O_4 : 3,3'-dihydroxy-β, β-carotene-4,4'-dione) is the most commonly occurring carotenoid in aquatic organs. It has two carbonyl groups, eleven conjugated ethylenic double bonds and two hydroxy groups which make esterification possible. The pink to red coloring of many echinoderms and crustaceans, the skin of several fishes, and the meat of many salmonid fish consist partly or wholly of astaxanthin and its esters. Astaxanthin was first isolated from the shell of lobster as the form of astacene (β, β-carotene-3,3', 4,4'-tetraone) by Kuhn and Lederer and it was proposed that astacene is partly combined with protein and partly esterified in animal tissues. Later astaxanthin was isolated from the lobster eggs and the structure of 3,3'-dihydroxy-β, β-carotene-4,4'-dione was determined based on the structure of astacene by Karrer et a1. Since astaxanthin was isolated from the lobster, it has been found in a number of organisms. It was originally believed that astaxanthin was a typical animal carotenoid. However, the isolation of astaxanthin from the green algae, Haemato coccus pluvialis, the flagellate, Euglena heliorubescens, the yeast, Phaffia rhodozyma and the higher plant, Adonis annua L. and A. aestivalis disproved the view that astaxathin is purely an animal pigment. In the present paper, chemical constitution, chemical and physical properties and synthesis of astaxanthin are discussed. |
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