Pigmentation of Pacific white shrimp (penaeus vannamei) using aztec marigold (tagetes erecta) extracts as the carotenoid source / Pigmentación del camaron blanco del Pacífico (penaeus vannamei) utilizando extractos de flor de cempasúchil (tagetes erecta) como fuente de carotenoides

ABSTRACT

Pacific white shrimp were fed diets containing natural pigments from Aztec marigold (Tagetes erecta) petals extracts (esterified and saponified). The pigmenting effect of these carotenoid free control diet and a synthetic astaxanthin (Roche Carophyll Pink) supplemented diet. It was found that after 14 days of feeding, the shrimp showed that the saponified marigold extract and the high concentration esterified marigold extract supplemented dists produced a better pigmentation effect (between 50-70) in the exoskeleton than the astaxanthin, the low concentration esterified marigold extract and the basal diets, the latter diets being non-significanthy different among themselves. However, during the same 14 day period, non-significanthy different results were observed in the carotenoid content of the shrimp abdominal muscle when fed with all diets except the low concentration esterified marigold extract diet that showed a significanthy lower value than the saponified marigold extract diet. These results indicate that the main caroteid sources in Tagetes erecta, namely lutein and zeaxanthin, are possibly metabolized into astaxanthin and deposited by the Pacific white shrimp