*2.3. Carotenoids of P. doliiformis*

The carotenoid content and composition of the sea angel *P. doliiformis* are shown in Table 1. *P. doliiformis* contained 159.8 ΐg/g wet weight carotenoid in the body. This was about three times higher than that of *C. limacina*. It was uncertain why *P. doliiformis* accumulated carotenoids three times higher than *C. limacina*. *P. doliiformis*  showed more bright red color than *C. limacina*. This might reflect difference of species. The carotenoid composition of *P. doliiformis* was similar to that of *C. limacina*. Pectenolone (30.5%) was found to be a major component, followed by Άcryptoxanthin (12.8%) and Ά-carotene (10.2%). The monoacetylenic carotenoid diatoxanthin and its oxidative metabolites, 7,8-didehydroastaxanthin, pectinolone, pectenol A, pectenol B, and 4ȝ-hydroxypectenolone, comprised with 25.9% of the total carotenoids. Diacetylenic carotenoids, alloxanthin, 7,8,7<sup>ȝ</sup>,8<sup>ȝ</sup>tetradehydroastaxanthin, 4-ketoalloxanthin, and 4ȝ-hydroxy-4-ketoalloxanthin, comprised 13.3% of the total carotenoids. 




