Occurrence of coenzyme forms of vitamin B12 in a cultured purple laver (Porphyla yezoensis)

Abstract

Porphyra yezoensis (Susabinori, an edible purple laver), which was cultured aseptically for 12 weeks and then lyophilized, contained 50 ± 2 μg/g of vitamin B12 per 100 g dry weight. Coenzyme forms of vitamin B 12 (about 60% of the total vitamin B12) were found in the cultured purple laver aseptically, which may have the ability to biosynthesize the coenzymes.