A simple, rapid method for HPLC analysis of lycopene isomers

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Plant Biochemistry

Background:

• Lycopene and beta-carotene are key carotenoids in tomatoes, with geometric isomers affecting bioavailability.
• Accurate quantification of these isomers is crucial for food quality and nutritional studies.
• Existing methods for carotenoid isomer separation are often time-consuming and complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid and efficient method for extracting, separating, and quantifying geometric isomers of lycopene and beta-carotene from tomato fruit.
• To improve upon existing chromatographic techniques for carotenoid analysis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized reversed-phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with a C30 column.
• Employed a mobile phase comprising methyl-t-butyl ether, methanol, and ethyl acetate.
• Optimized separation for cis- and trans-isomers of lycopene and beta-carotene.

Main Results:

• Achieved sharp resolution of lycopene geometric isomers within approximately 23 minutes.
• The developed method is significantly faster than previous gradient procedures.
• Demonstrated that storing tomato extracts at -20°C improves stability.
• Found that Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) did not significantly affect extract stability.

Conclusions:

• The described HPLC method offers a rapid and effective approach for analyzing tomato carotenoid isomers.
• This technique enhances the efficiency of quantifying lycopene and beta-carotene, vital for nutritional and food science research.
• Proper storage conditions are recommended for maintaining the integrity of tomato carotenoid extracts.