Study of carotenoid composition and fatty acids of astaxanthin diester in rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri fed the Adonis extract.

Abstract

1. The rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri were fed the diet containing Adonis extract or synthetic astaxanthin. Astaxanthin of both diets was incorporated in the skin and flesh of the fish. 2. Fatty acid composition of astaxanthin diester extracted from rainbow trout fed with diets containing the pigment extract from the flower Adonis aestivalis and racemic astaxanthin was de-termined. 3. Astaxanthin diester which was extracted from the fish fed the Adonis extract contained C18:1 (31.8%) and C22:6 (13.1%) as the major fatiy acids. 4. Entirely different fatty acid profiles were found in the astaxanthin diester between the Adonis extract and the fish fed the Adonis extract. The result indicated that astaxanthin diester absorbed and hydrolyzed. After it was transferred into the skin, it was re-esterified. 5. Astaxanthin was extracted from the flesh and the skin of rainbow trout fed with racemic astaxanthin ((3S, 3'S)-/(3S, 3'R)-/(3R, 3'R)-astaxanthin (1/2/1)). In the flesh, 26.4% (3S, 3'S)-, 51.5% (3S, S'R)-and 22.4% (3R, 3'R)-astaxanthin were detected. In the skin, 35% (3S, 3'S)-, 46.4% (35, 3'S)-and 17.8% (3R, 3'R)-astaxanthin were detected.