Carotenoid Pigments in Sweet Fish

Abstract

Carotenoid pigments from the skin and fin of sweet fish were investigated. The main pigment in this fish has been reported to be lutein, but in the present investigation, zeaxanthin was in fact found to be the main pigment (41-93%).
In addition to zeaxanhin (413, 68, 93, 88, 3%), β-carotene (2.5, 2, 0, 0%), cryptoxanthin (28.4, 0, 1, 1.8%), lutein (5.1, 20, 1, 4.4%), cynthiaxanthin (17.5, 10, 3.5, 5.5%), astacene (5.2, 0, tace, 0%) and an unknown pigment (0, 0, 15, 0%) were found in natural young, cultured mature, natural mature (lake origin) and natural mature (marine origin) sweet fish respectively.
A considerable amount of cryptoxanthin was observed in natural young sweet fish and an unknown pigment (λ_max 381, 398, 420 nm. in petr. ether) was recognized only in natural mature sweet fish (lake origin).