抄録
The major carotenoids in the decapoda species have been reported to be astaxanthin and astaxanthin esters, while some species contain such other carotenoids as canthaxanthin, in addition to astaxanthin and astaxanthin esters. We have previously clarified that the proportion of the (3S, 3’S) type in astaxanthin optical isomers was higher in the terrestrial coconut crab (Birgus latro ; 50%) than in other marine crabs.
Although more than 15,000 animals have been reported to belong to the decapoda species, few studies have reported the carotenoids in the edible decapoda species. We analyzed in this study the carotenoids in the red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus), squat lobster (Cervimunida princeps), and Japanese mud shrimp (Upogebia major) (edible decapoda species) in detail for the first time, and determined that more than 97% of them were astaxanthin and its esters. We also clarified the optical isomeric ratio of astaxanthin [(3R, 3’R), (3R, 3’S ; meso), or (3S, 3’S)] in each arthropod, and determined the fatty acid species and their ratio in the astaxanthin esters.
