title: Identification and quantitative analysis of carotenoids and their esters from sarsaparilla (Smilax aspera L.) berries.
abstract: The carotenoid composition of sarsaparilla ( Smilax aspera  L.) berries has been analyzed for the first time. Lycopene was found to be the main carotenoid (242.44 μg/g fresh wt) in the pulp, followed by β-carotene (65.76 μg/g fresh wt) and β-cryptoxanthin (42.14 μg/g fresh wt; including the free and esterified forms). Other minor carotenoids were lycophyll (13.70 μg/g fresh wt), zeaxanthin (8.56 μg/g fresh wt; including the free and esterified forms), lutein (0.94 μg/g fresh wt), and antheraxanthin (0.58 μg/g fresh wt). β-Cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin were present in free and esterified forms. β-Cryptoxanthin was mainly esterified with saturated fatty acids (capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic), although a low amount of β-cryptoxanthin oleate was also detected. In the case of zeaxanthin, only a monoester with myristic acid (zeaxanthin monomyristate) was identified. The diverse carotenoid profile, some with provitamin A activity, together with the relatively high content, up to 375 μg/g fresh wt, makes sarsaparilla berries a potential source of carotenoids for the food, animal feed, and pharmaceutical industries.
authors: Grupo de Química y Bioquímica de Pigmentos, Departamento de Biotecnología de Alimentos, Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC), Avenida Padre García Tejero 4, 41012 Sevilla, Spain.
authors: Raúl
authors: R
authors: Delgado-Pelayo
authors: Dámaso
authors: D
authors: Hornero-Méndez
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D014975:Lutein / Q000032:analysis; D000077276:Lycopene; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D032281:Smilax / Q000737:chemistry*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000032:analysis; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; C031140:antheraxanthin; D002338:Carotenoids; C514774:lycophyll; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein