Related Experiment Videos
Analysis of xanthophylls in corn by HPLC
E E Moros1, D Darnoko, M Cheryan
1Agricultural Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, 1302 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|October 3, 2002
Summary
This study developed an HPLC method to quantify major xanthophylls in corn, finding yellow dent corn contains significant lutein and zeaxanthin. Corn gluten meal showed much higher xanthophyll concentrations, suggesting protein binding.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Xanthophylls, including lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin, are important carotenoids found in corn.
- Understanding their distribution and concentration is crucial for nutritional and industrial applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method for separating and quantifying major xanthophylls in corn.
- To determine the xanthophyll content in yellow dent corn, corn gluten meal, and deoiled corn.
Main Methods:
- Development of an HPLC method utilizing a C-30 carotenoid column.
- Employing a photodiode array detector and a mobile phase of methyl tert-butyl ether/methanol/water.
- Analysis of xanthophylls in yellow dent corn, corn gluten meal, and deoiled corn samples.
Main Results:
- The HPLC method successfully separated lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin within 25 minutes.
- Yellow dent corn contained 21.97 microg/g total xanthophylls, with lutein (15.7 microg/g) and zeaxanthin (5.7 microg/g) as major components.
- Corn gluten meal exhibited significantly higher xanthophyll concentrations (145 microg/g) compared to yellow dent corn.
Conclusions:
- The developed HPLC method is effective for analyzing major xanthophylls in corn.
- Corn gluten meal is a rich source of xanthophylls.
- Xanthophylls in corn are likely bound to the zein protein fraction.