Concentration of Esterified Astaxanthin in Euphausiid Oil

A New method for concentrating esterified astaxanthin (Asta) in euphausiid oil was established. This oil was found to consist of triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, phospholipids and 0.086% Asta, which was composed of 52.5% diester form, 33.3% monoester form and 14.2% free form. By florisil column and silicagel column fractionations, diesterified Asta could be concentrated by more than 230 times from euphausiid oil THe content and recovery of diesterified Asta in the triacylglycerol fraction were 20% and 73%, respectively. By the present method, naturally occurring diesterified Asta could be easily concentrated in the triacylglycerol fraction. The Asta concentrates may be used as available materials possessing antioxidative and some physioligical activities.