| 초록 |
The carotenoid pigment astaxanthin (3,3’-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4’-dione) from the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis has been gaining increasing attention in recent years because of its strong antioxidant properties. Astaxanthin accumulates inside cell bodies of H. pluvialis during the transformation of green vegetative cells to red cyst cells under unfavorable environments. The astaxanthin pool of encysted Haematococcus is approximately 70% monoesters, 25% diesters and 5% free. Free- astaxanthin is preferable to astaxanthin esters in terms of the utilization by animals. Moreover, mature red cysts form a thick amorphous layer of secondary wall inside the extracellular matrix (primary wall), followed by the limitation of bio-availability of astaxanthinin in animals and humans. Therefore, there is a need to develop a novel process for maximizing the production of free- astaxanthin. In this study, free- astaxanthin from cyst cells of H. pluvialis was selectively extracted by a two phase solvent system using alkane and alcohol, resulted in a recovery yield of free- astaxanthin over 96%. |
