어류 이외의 해양생물의 carotenoid 조성에 관한 비교 생화학적 연구의 일환으로 환형동물문의 개불의 carotenoid 색소성분을 Thin layer chromatography, Column chromatography 및 HPLC로 분리한 후, UV spectrometer, IR spectrometer 그리고 NMR 및 Mass spectrometer를 이용하여 분석, 비교, 검토한 결과는 다음과 같다. 개불의 총 carotenoid 함량이 3월에 1.19mg/100g 4월에 0.98mg/100g 그리고 5월에는 0.84mg/100g로서 서식 수온이 상승할수록 총 carotenoid의 함량이 감소했다. 채취시기에 따른 개불의 carotenoid 조성의 함량비의 변화를 보면, 3월에는 diatoxanthin monoester $16.3\%$, $eta$-carotene $14.8\%$ 및 cynthiaxanthin monoester $12.6\%$가 주성분을 이루고 그 외 anthiaxanthin diester $8.4\%$, zeaxanthin monoester $8.2\%$%, diatoxanthin diester $7.3\%$, astaxanthin $4.2\%$, diatoxanthin $2.9\%$, triol $2.4\%$, anthiaxanthin $2.3\%$, isocryptoxanthin $1.7\%$, zeaxanthin diester $1.5\%$, zeaxanthin $0.8\%$ 및 lutein $0.5\%$의 순으로 함유하였으며, 4월에는 diatoxanthin monoester $21.9\%$, anthiaxanthin monoester $17.2\%$ 및 $eta$-carotene $16.6\%$가 주성분을 이루고 그 외 zeaxanthin monoester $10.9\%$, cynthiaxanthin diester $5.6\%$, diatoxanthin diester $4.9\%$, astaxanthin $3.1\%$, triol $2.4\%$, diatoxanthin $2.3\%$, isocryptoxanthin $1.7\%$, lutein $1.5\%$, zeaxanthin $1.1\%$, cynthiaxanthin $1.0\%$ 및 zeaxanthin diester $1.0\%$의 순으로 함유하였고 그리고 5월에는 diaoxanthin monoester $25.3\%$, anthiaxanthin monoester $19.7\%$, $eta$-carotene $13.0\%$ 및 zeaxanthin monoester $12.6\%$가 주성분을 이루고 그 외 cynthiaxanthin diester $5.8\%$, diatoxanthin $5.1\%$, astaxanthin $3.0\%$, triol $2.4\%$, diatoxanthin $2.2\%$, isocryptoxanthin $1.3\%$, zeaxanthin $1.2\%$, zeaxanthin diester $1.1\%$, lutein $1.0\%$ 및 cynthiaxanthin $0.9\%$의 순으로 함유하여 개불의 총 carotenoid에는 monoester형 carotenoid의 함량비가 $37.1~57.6\%$ 및 diester형 carotenoids의 함량비가 $11.5~17.2\%$로서 주성분을 이룬다. 한편, 개불에서 총 cantenoid 함량이 감소함에 따라 또한 해수의 수온이 상승함에 따라 zeaxanthin monoester, diatoxanthin monoester 및 cynthiaxanthin monoester의 함량비는 증가하는 반면, zeaxanthin diester, diatoxanthin diester 및 anthiaxanthin diester의 함량 비는 감소하여 특이하였다.
Carotenoid pigments of echiurid, Urechis unicinctus were investigated during March, April and May as a part of comparative biochemical studies of carotenoid pigments for the marine organisms other than pisces. Total carotenoid contents were found to be 1.19 mg/100 g in March, 0.98 mg/100 g in April and 0.84 mg/100 g in May, indicating that total carotenoid content was negatively affected by the temperature of sea water that echiurid resided. The carotenoid isolated in March composed of $16.3\%$ diatoxanthin monoester, $14.8\%$ $eta$-carotene and $12.6\%$ cynthiaxanthin monoester, $8.4\%$ cynthiaxanthin diester, $8.2\%$ zeaxanthin monoester, $7.3\%$ diatoxanthin diester $4.2\%$ astaxanthin $2.9\%$ diatoxanthin, $2.4\%$ triol, $2.3\%$ cynthiaxanthin, $1.7\%$ isocrytoxanthin, $1.5\%$ zeaxanthin diester, $0.8\%$ zeaxanthin and $0.5\%$ lutein. The carotenoid isolated in April composed of $21.9\%$ diatoxanthin monoester, $17.2\%$ cynthiaxanthin monoester and $16.6\%$ $eta$-carotene $10.9\%$ zeaxanthin monoester, $5.6\%$ cynthiaxanthin diester, $4.9\%$ diatoxanthin diester, $3.1\%$ astaxanthin, $2.4\%$ triol, $2.3\%$ diatoxanthin, $1.7\%$ isocrytoxanthin, $1.5\%$ lutein, $1.1\%$ zeaxanthin, $1.0\%$ cynthiaxanthin and $1.0\%$ zeaxanthin diester. Similarly, the carotenoid isolated in May composed of $25.3\%$ diatoxanthin monoester, $19.7\%$ cynthiaxanthin monoester, $13.0\%$ $eta$-carotene, and $12.6\%$ zeaxanthin monoester, $5.8\%$ cynthiaxanthin diester, $5.1\%$ diatoxanthin, $3.0\%$ astaxanthin, $2.4\%$ triol, $2.2\%$ diatoxanthin, $1.3\%$ isocrytoxanthin, $1.2\%$ zeaxanthin, $1.1\%$ zeaxanthin diester, $1.0\%$ lutein and $0.9\%$ cynthiaxanthin. Based on these data, monoester-type carotenoids ($37.1~57.6\%$) and diester-type carotenoids ($11.5~17.2\%$) of total carotenoids in echiurid were the major carotenoids. Meanwhile, when the sea water temperature was elevated and the contents of total carotenoid in echiurids were decreased, the contents of zeaxanthin monoester, diatoxanthin monoester and cynthiaxanthin monoester were increased, but the contents of zeaxanthin diester, diatoxanthin diester and cynthiaxanthin diseter were decreased, indicating that changes in ester-type caroteoids were differently affected by the sea water temperature.
