Determination of carotenoids and liposoluble vitamins in sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) by high performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine carotenoids (lutein, β-carotene, β-isocryptoxanthin, and β-echinenone) and liposoluble vitamins (retinol=vitamin A, and α-tocopherol=vitamin E) in fresh and canned gonads of the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. β-Carotene, β-isocryptoxanthin, and β-echinenone are vitamin A precursors. The carotenoids were determined with UV–vis detection and the vitamins with fluorescence detection. The sensitivity and precision of the method were good. Retinol was not detected in either fresh or canned material. Mean concentrations in fresh material (mg per 100 g dry weight) were 3.44 for lutein, 0.79 for β-carotene, 1.89 for β-isocryptoxanthin, 11.35 for β-echinenone, and 7.86 for α-tocopherol. Mean concentrations in canned material were 70–80% of concentrations in fresh material, except for β-echinenone, the concentration of which was about 30% higher in canned material.