The Occurrence of Apocarotenoids in the Sea Hare Dolabella auricularia

Abstract

The carotenoids in the muscle of the sea hare Dolabella auricularia were investigated. An apocarotenoid has been isolated and its structure was elucidated to be β-apo-8'-carotenal on the basis of the spectral data. β-Apo-8'-carotenol which seems to be a metabolic carotenoid of β-apo-8'-carotenal was also isolated. Besides these two carotenoids, 9-cis-β-apo-8'-carotenal, citranaxanthin, lutein and fucoxanthin were identified. © 1991, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.