Abstract: This study investigated the effects of different drying methods,storage temperatures and stored time on the stability of fucoxanthin from Sargassum fusiforme.Effects of three different drying methods (air-dried in the shade at room temperature,low-temperature drying method and vacuum freeze drying method) on the stability of fucoxanthin from S.fusiforme were discussed.The results showed that compared with low-temperature drying method and air-dried in the shade at room temperature,vacuum freeze drying method was the best drying method due to S.fusiforme treated with this method had lower moisture content,higher content of fucoxanthin (699.2 μg/g) and higher retention of fucoxanthin (94.7%).In exploring the effects of different temperatures (-20 ,4,25,30 ℃) on fucoxanthin from S.fusiforme,the results showed that the degradation rate of fucoxanthin was obviously increased with the increase of storage temperatures.Therefore,-20 ℃ was the best storage temperature for S.fusiforme.

Key words: fucoxanthin, Sargassum fusiforme, drying methods, storage temperature, stability