Study of astaxanthin diester extracted from Adonis aestivalis

Abstract

1. 1. Astaxanthin diester was isolated from the flower, Adonis aestivalis. The structure of the astaxanthin diester was confirmed by 1H-NMR, and MS spectrophotometric methods as well as conventional methods such as absorption spectra, chemical tests and co-chromatography with authentic standards. 2. 2. After conversion to its (—)-camphanic acid diester and HPLC separation of the diastereomers, astaxanthin from A. aestivalis was shown to consist of the (3S, 3′S) and (3R, 3′S) isomers in a ratio of 92:5. 3. 3. The CD data for the astaxanthin diester confirmed that the astaxanthin diester in A. aestivalis has mainly the (3S, 3′S)-configuration. 4. 4. Fatty acid composition of the astaxanthin diester of A. aestivalis was analyzed by means of GLC analysis of their methyl esters. Oleic (23.2%), palmitic (22.7%), myristic (17.2%), linolenic (11.2%), lauric (10.4%) and linoleic acid (7.2%) were identified in the ester. 5. 5. It was shown that astaxanthin diester contained more saturated and shorter chain fatty acids than those of the total lipid of the flower.