PURPOSE: To obtain the titled compound useful as a raw material for medicines, deodorants, colorants, etc. easily in high yield at a low cost in a short time, by hydrolyzing chlorophyll which is a photosynthetic organism, and removing carotenoid, etc. with a low polar organic solvent.

CONSTITUTION: Chlorophyll contained in a photosynthetic organism is reacted with a hydrolase, and the reaction product is then extracted with an organic solvent to give crude pheophorbide, which is then treated with a low polar organic solvent, e.g. petroleum ether, n-hexane or benzene, to recover the carotenoid part and separate and extract the aimed substance from the photosynthetic organism. The hydrolysis is carried out by mixing the photosynthetic organism with water in an amount of 0.5W3 times that of the photosynthetic organism fully, and the reaction is carried out at a suitable humidity under warming, e.g. 30W100°C for 1W8hr. An alga, e.g. chlorella or laver, or a higher green plant, e.g. a spinach, comfrey or green tea, may be cited as the photosynthetic organism.