PURPOSE: To provide an excellent antioxidation activity by extracting bacteria, belonging to the genus Rhodobacter which can produce at least one of a new carotenoid 1, lycopene, rhodopine, 'and dehydrorhodopine represented by particular formulae, with an org. solvent.
CONSTITUTION: After cultivation in a predetermined medium, carotenoid producing bacteria, having an antioxidation activity, belonging to the genus Rhodobacter is extracted with an org. solvent, such as ethanol, acetone, or ethyl acetate, and the extract is concentrated under reduced pressure to give an extract having a red or purple color. The extract is then chromatographed on silica gel, and purple or red fractions are eluted with diethyl ether/n-hexane having concentrations of 40%, 5%, 30%, and 50%. The fractions thus eluted are purified by liq. chromatography using 20% dichloromethane/acetonitrile and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a new carotenoid 1 represented by the formula I, lycopene represented by the formula II, rhodopine represented by the formula III, and dehydrorhodopine represented by the formula IV.
MATSUMURA AKIHIKO
ITO YOSHIHIRO
OKUDA YOKO
MOCHIDA KOICHI
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