TLC-ANALYSIS OF A CORRINOID COMPOUND FROM JAPANESE ROCK-OYSTER “IWA-GAKI” (CRASSOSTREA NIPPONA)

Abstract

Vitamin B₁₂ contents of Japanese rock-oyster “Iwa-gaki” (Crassostrea nippona) maintained high levels (14.2–19.8 µg/whole body and 20.1–27.0 µg/100 g wet weight) in the oyster season (from June to August at Tottori-city in Japan). To evaluate whether the oyster contains true vitamin B₁₂ or inactive corrinoid compound, a corrinoid compound was purified to homogeneity and partially characterized. TLC and HPLC patterns of the purified compound were identical to those of authentic vitamin B₁₂. These results indicate that Japanese rock-oyster “Iwa-gaki” contains substantial amounts of true vitamin B₁₂ and would be an excellent source of the vitamin.

Keywords:

• corrinoid compound
• Crassostrea nippona
• Japanese rock-oyster “Iwa-gaki”
• TLC
• vitamin B₁₂