High-performance liquid chromatography for the characterization of carotenoids in the new sweet orange (Earlygold) grown in Florida, USA.
High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection was developed for the separation and identification of carotenoids from a new sweet orange, Earlygold. Carotenoid pigments were extracted using hexane-acetone-ethanol and saponified using 10% methanolic potassium hydroxide. More than 25 carotenoid pigments were separated within 40 min using a ternary gradient (acetonitrile-methanol, methyl tert-butyl ether and water) elution on a C30 reversed-phase column. The carotenoid pattern of Earlygold was generally similar to the early season Hamlin but with some quantitative differences, especially with violaxanthin. Major carotenoids including violaxanthin, lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, antheraxanthin, luteoxanthin, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, and alpha-carotene were identified based on on-line spectral data obtained by a photodiode array detector, and comparison to the spectra of the standards and reported values. A numerical notation, the ratio of the peak heights between absorption bands, was also calculated to compare to the literature values.
Lee
H S
HS
Florida Department of Citrus, Citrus Research and Education Center, Lake Alfred 33850, USA. hsl@lal.ufl.edu
Castle
W S
WS
Coates
G A
GA
D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*
D002338:Carotenoids