Separation and identification of carotenoids in bird's plumage by high-performance liquid chromatography--diode-array detection.
The coloured feathers of Carduelis spinus (Siskin), C. flammea (Redpoll), Serinus serinus (Serin), Loxia curvirostra (Crossbill), Pinicola enucleator (Grossbeak), Carpodacus roseus (Pallas Rosefinch) and Pyrrhula pyrrhula (Bullfinch) have been extracted with a new procedure using mild conditions (a few minutes at room temperature). After the separation of melanines and proteins, the extracts were analyzed by HPLC-MS and HPLC-UV-Vis. The main components of the pigments were identified in all the species examined; moreover, UV-Vis and MS data were collected also for the minor components. These data suggest that minor components are generally cis isomers accompanying the predominant all-trans isomers.
Istituto di Chimica Organica, Facoltà di Farmacia, Università di Milano, Italy.
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D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007536:Isomerism; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000737:chemistry; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013045:Species Specificity; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
D010860:Pigments, Biological; D002338:Carotenoids