Determination of carotenoids and liposoluble vitamins in sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) by high performance liquid chromatography

High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine carotenoids (l utein, p-carotene, beta -isocryptoxanthin, and beta -echinenone) and liposo luble vitamins (retinol=vitamin A, and alpha -tocopherol=vitamin E) in fres h and canned gonads of the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. beta -C arotene, beta -isocryptoxanthin, and beta -echinenone are vitamin A precurs ors. The carotenoids were determined with UV-vis detection and the vitamins with fluorescence detection. The sensitivity and precision of the method w ere good. Retinol was not detected in either fresh or canned material. Mean concentrations in fresh material (mg per 100 g dry weight) were 3.44 for l utein, 0.79 for beta -carotene, 1.89 for beta -isocryptoxanthin, 11.35 for beta -echinenone, and 7.86 for alpha -tocopherol. Mean concentrations in ca nned material were 70-80% of concentrations in fresh material, except for b eta -echinenone, the concentration of which was about 30% higher in canned material.