Carotenoid composition of a New Zealand (Evechinus chloroticus) and an Australian (Heliocidaris erythrogramma) sea urchin in relation to gonad colour

• DOI: 10.1111/are.13736
• Publication Date: 2018-05-30T09:26:02Z
• Authors: Jodi Brewster; Daniel Garama; Miles Lamare; Alan Carne
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; 14. Life underwater

Sea urchins are commercially harvested for their edible gonads, also known as roe or uni. Most species, particularly those from the Northern hemisphere reported to exhibit limited variation in gonad colour, which is proposed be due carotenoid pigments. The species New Zealand, Evechinus chloroticus, and Australia, Heliocidaris erythrogramma, however, considerable colour variation, ranging a culinary desirable light yellow/orange an undesirable brown. Gonads E. chloroticus H. erythrogramma were characterized spectrophotometrically content extracted analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. main found gonads of both was 9′-cis-echinenone, with lower levels all-trans-echinenone, lutein isozeaxanthin. Carotenoid composition contributed components but not correlated darker coloration observed some individuals. Our results highlight important considerations relating sea urchin such will provide useful information future aquaculture processing these two species.