Astaxanthin Preparation by Lipase‐Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Its Esters from Haematococcus pluvialis Algal Extracts

Abstract

Five of 8 fungal lipases screened were found to effectively hydrolyze astaxanthin esters from Haematococcus pluvialis algal cell extracts. Among these, an alkaline lipase from Penicillium cyclopium, expressed in Pichia pastoris, had the highest enzymolysis efficiency. Tween80 was shown to be an effective emulsifier in this lipase hydrolysis system for the 1st time. A series of experiments were performed to find optimal conditions for hydrolysis (pH, temperature, reaction time, lipase dosage). In the optimal reaction system, Tween80 and H. pluvialis extracts (mass ratio 1:1) were emulsified and added to the above lipase at a dosage of 4.6 U/μg (relative to total carotenoids), in phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 7.0), and incubated at 28 °C for 7 h, with agitation at 180 rpm. The free astaxanthin recovery ratio under these conditions was 63.2%.

Preparation of (3R, 3′R)-astaxanthin monoester and (3R, 3′R)-astaxanthin from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana)

“…The first type of methods uses high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS). For example, in 2011 Zhao [12] detected AM from Haematococcus; in 2004 Breithaupt [13] identified AM in shrimp and in a microalga; and in 2003 Takaichi [14] determined five fatty acids from AM in krills. However, HPLC-MS is costly and time-consuming because without standard, the MS should contrast each broken molecular fragment to come to a conclusion.…”

Mechanism of Different Stereoisomeric Astaxanthin in Resistance to Oxidative Stress in Caenorhabditis elegans

“…Astaxanthin (AST) is a red carotenoid pigment widely exsiting in many living organisms and classified as a xanthophyll. It is commonly found in crustaceans (for example, shrimps, crawfish, crabs, and lobster) and produced by microorganisms such as microalgae, yeasts and bacteria (Zhao and others ; Santos and others ). AST and many catotenoids (for example, β‐carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin) share with the general metabolic and physiological activities.…”

Highly efficient preparation of free all‐trans‐astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis extract by a rapid biocatalytic method based on crude extracellular enzyme extract

“…Furthermore, the different fatty acids of astaxanthin esters cause significant differences in pigmentation and they are extremely complex and difficult to analyse and identify (Yuan & Chen, , ). Instead, free astaxanthin might favour a wide range of further chemical modifications, which is useful to increase its water solubility and the number of pharmacological application (Zhao et al ., ).…”

“…Zhao et al . () attempted to obtain purified astaxanthin from H. pluvialis algal extract (≥ 5% w/w of the total carotenoids) by lipase‐catalysed hydrolysis at 28 °C for 7 h. The free astaxanthin recovery ratio was 63.2%. Jacobs et al .…”