Determination And Antioxidative Effects Of Carotenoids In The Gonad Of Sea Cucumber

In this paper, to prove the commercial value of the gonad of sea cucumber, the carotenoids in the gonad were identified and quantified.The process and results as follows:(1) The extraction process was optimized by the single factor test.The best extract condition was extraction using acetone- petroleum(2:1, v/v) ether at indoor temperature for 5h and ratio of solvent to material 1:40. The total carotenoids content was 71.62 μg/g.(2) The carotenoids in the gonad of sea cucumber were determined the variety and content by developing an HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS method and a preparative column chromatographic method for carotenoid isolation. Carotenoids were resolved by employing a YMC C30(250×4.6 mm i.d. S-5 μm)column and a gradient mobile phase of methanol-acetonitrile-water(79:14:7, v/v/v) and methylene chloride(100%) with flow rate at 1.0 mL/min and detection at 450 nm.(3) All-trans-lutein and All-trans-zeaxanthin was used as the standard for quantitation,all-trans-lutein and its cis isomers present in largest amount(547.28 μg/g), all-trans-zeaxanthin and its cis isomers(37.89 μg/g).(4) Carotenoids in the gonads of sea cucumber were proved have strongly antioxidative effects for scavenging hydroxyl free radicals and DPPH free radical.