Rapid Purification of Fucoxanthin from Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Abstract

Fucoxanthin is a natural marine xanthophyll and exhibits a broad range of biological activities. In the present study, a simple and efficient two-step method was used to purify fucoxanthin from the diatom, Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The crude pigment extract of fucoxanthin was separated by silica gel column chromatography (SGCC). Then, the fucoxanthin-rich fraction was purified using a hydrophile–lipophile balance (HLB) solid-phase extraction column. The identification and quantification of fucoxanthin were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This two-step method can obtain 92.03% pure fucoxanthin and a 76.67% recovery rate. In addition, 1H and 13C NMR spectrums were adopted to confirm the identity of fucoxanthin. Finally, the purified fucoxanthin exhibited strong antioxidant properties in vitro with the effective concentration for 50% of maximal scavenging (EC50) of 1,1-Dihpenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) free radicals being 0.14 mg·mL−1 and 0.05 mg·mL−1, respectively.

Xanthophyll-Rich Extract of Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin as New Photoprotective Cosmeceutical Agent: Safety and Efficacy Assessment on In Vitro Reconstructed Human Epidermis Model

“…These pigments possess several functional health properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin photoprotective [ 7 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. In vitro and in vivo studies highlighted both direct and indirect antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, through the modulation of specific genes and proteins [ 42 ].…”

Brown Algae as Functional Food Source of Fucoxanthin: A Review

“…However, according to Holdt and Kraan [ 103 ], the trans isomer has better stability, comprising 90% of naturally found fucoxanthin and has more potent antioxidants than the cis isomer. The structure of the fucoxanthin allenic bond is unique and imparts functional health impacts such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and many more [ 47 , 100 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 ]. The ability of fucoxanthin to modulate and alter the biological system of individual gene and protein expression is reported to be the key mechanism for its physiological activities [ 104 ].…”

“…Furthermore, it has been shown to have dose-dependent antioxidant effects, with a 3.3-fold rise in the ratio of reduced to oxidised glutathione [ 106 ]. Recently, Zhao, et al [ 107 ] has reported that fucoxanthin purified by silica gel column chromatography (SGCC) has exhibited strong antioxidant properties, with effective concentrations of 0.14 mgmL −1 and 0.05 mgmL −1 for IC 50 of DPPH and ABTS free radicals, respectively.…”

Fucoxanthin ameliorates traumatic brain injury by suppressing the blood–brain barrier disruption

“… 13 Furthermore, fucoxanthin has been suggested to be safe by the European Food Safety Authority and the US Food and Drug Administration. 14 Fucoxanthin possesses unique structural features, including allene bond, epoxide and acetyl groups. 15 Due to its structural diversity, fucoxanthin has health benefits such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects.…”