Method for extracting and purifying fucoxanthin

The invention discloses a method for extracting and purifying fucoxanthin. According to the method, a microwave assisted extraction technology is utilized, and ethanol serves as a solvent, so that fucoxanthin in brown seaweed raw materials can be rapidly extracted; and a liquid-liquid extraction and column chromatography two-step separation process is adopted, so that the fucoxanthin can be effectively separated from chlorophyll and other impurity components. The fucoxanthin is low in toxicity, safe and environment-friendly, ethanol is taken as an extraction solvent, and the use amount of a toxic organic solvent is effectively reduced; and moreover, a microwave extraction method is adopted, extraction can be finished within 5 minutes only, and the extraction time is greatly shortened. The method disclosed by the invention is simple, rapid and high-efficiency in the whole extraction and purification process, the operation is convenient, large-scale production is easily realized, and a foundation is laid for development and utilization of natural health food additives such as the fucoxanthin with extremely high values and biological drug resources.