Investigations of carotenoids in some animals of the Adriatic Sea V. Echinodermata

Abstract

The author investigated the carotenoids in the Echinodermata from Adriatic sea by means of columnar and thin-layer chromatography .

HPLC‐PAD‐atmospheric pressure chemical ionization‐MS metabolite profiling of cytotoxic carotenoids from the echinoderm Marthasterias glacialis (spiny sea‐star)

“…The main ions corresponding to these compounds were searched, but no compounds were found. This result could be explained by the different geographical origin of M. glacialis, which in this study was collected in the Atlantic Ocean and in the work of Czeczuga [6] were from the Adriatic Sea. Taking into account that in sea-stars carotenoids arise from the diet, it is plausible that different diets result in different carotenoid compositions of these echinoderms.…”

“…It should be highlighted that some minor carotenoids, previously described for this species [6], were not noticed in the individuals studied herein, namely b-carotene, cryptoxanthin, echinenone and lutein 5,6-epoxide. The main ions corresponding to these compounds were searched, but no compounds were found.…”

“…Another compound, 2,4-didehydro-a-carotene was previously described [6]. However, according to Britton et al [11] to this day this is the only reference to this compound in nature, which, together with the fact that no MS or NMR studies were conducted in this compound, turns that its occurrence cannot be confirmed.…”

“…Likewise, one carotenoid ester has been previously described in M. glacialis [6]. We performed two different saponification procedures in order to identify the presence of these compounds, but no such compounds were found.…”

“…During the period 1940-1950s, this species received great attention, mainly due to its asterosaponins [5]. At the same time, carotenoids in this organism were also studied by means of the analytical techniques common at the time, namely absorption spectrum, comparison of Rf values by TLC and partition coefficient [6]. To our knowledge, no previous study provided the LC-MS analysis of the carotenoid fraction of M. glacialis and its biological potential.…”