*3.4. Identification of Carotenoids*

Identification of individual carotenoids were carried out on UV-VIS and FAB MS spectral data and compared with chromatographic property with authentic samples [19]. Optical isomer of astaxanthin in the crown-of-thorns starfish *Acanthaster planci*  was analyzed by Chiral HPLC [18]. Astaxanthin fraction in *Acanthaster planci* was consisted of three optical isomers (3*<sup>R</sup>*,3<sup>ȝ</sup>*R*):(3*R*,3<sup>ȝ</sup>*S*):(3*S*,3<sup>ȝ</sup>*S*) with a ratio of 32:14:54. Furthermore, peridiniol, peridinin and 9ȝ*Z*-Peridinin were characterized by 1H NMR [15,16]. Structures of 7,8-ihydrodiadinoxanthin, 3<sup>ȝ</sup>-epigobiusxanthin, 4-keto-4<sup>ȝ</sup>hydroxydiatoxanthin, 4-ketodeepoxyneoxanthin, and deepoxyneoxanthin were fully characterized by NMR [14]. 
