title: Quantification of zeaxanthin dipalmitate and total carotenoids in Lycium fruits (Fructus Lycii).
abstract: An HPLC-DAD method has been developed to quantitatively analyze for the content of zeaxanthin dipalmitate, a major carotenoid in Fructus Lycii, in different species of the genus Lycium. Determination was performed using an Alltima C18 column with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and dichloromethane (42:58). The total contents of carotenoids in these samples were also determined by using UV spectrophotometric assay. Total carotenoid concentrations of different Fructus Lycii are within the range of 0.03-0.5%. Zeaxanthin dipalmitate is a predominant carotenoid, comprising 31-56% of the total carotenoids in Fructus Lycii. This study is the first systematic quantification of the carotenoids in the fruits of different Lycium species. The results demonstrated that these methods are reliable and facile techniques for rapid analysis of carotenoids for crude drug and plant-derived food supplements.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yawei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kelvin Sze-Yin
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zhongzhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D032305:Lycium / Q000737:chemistry*; D010168:Palmitates / Q000032:analysis*; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010168:Palmitates; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C109854:zeaxanthin dipalmitate