Aims: Sea urchins have been extensively studied due to the commercial importance of their gonads in the global industry. Although after removal of the edible gonads, the remaining shell and spines are usually discarded, they are known to possess various polyhydroxylated naphthoquinone (PHNQ) pigments. The aim of the present research was quantitative and qualitative identification of PHNQ pigments from shell and spine of Echinometra Mathaei of the Persian Gulf.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the Echinometra mathaei was used as the sea urchin test sample. Sea urchins were collected in 2013 from Zeytoon Park in Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf. Shell and spine pigments were extracted by hydrochloric acid from sea urchin. Then, the quantity of Naphthoquinone compounds was evaluated by spectrophotometric and their quality was evaluated by Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The data were analysed by ANOVA and Duncan's new multiple range test at 5% probability level, using SPSS 19 software and the diagrams were drawn by Excel 2013 software.
Findings: The most pigments were Spinochrome A, C, B, and Echinochrome A, respectively. The presence of PHNQ pigments were confirmed in pigments Spinochrome B and C, Echinochrome A, and Spinochrome A, respectively.
Conclusion: The presence of each of the four pigments in shell and spine pigments is confirmed by quantitative and qualitative methods. The most pigments are Spinochrome A, C, B, and Echinochrome A, respectively.