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Improved Sample Preparation and Optimized Solvent Extraction for Quantitation of Carotenoids
Jashbir Singh1, Guddadarangavvanahally K Jayaprakasha2, Bhimanagouda S Patil3
1Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, 1500 Research Parkway, Suite A120, College Station, TX, 77845, USA.
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
|January 9, 2021
Summary
This study optimized sample preparation for rapid carotenoid analysis in fruits. A faster extraction method using specific solvents and blending times improves quantitation of key antioxidants like beta-carotene.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Plant Biochemistry
Background:
- Carotenoids are vital antioxidants in food, crucial for quality assessment.
- Their susceptibility to oxidation necessitates efficient extraction and analysis methods.
- Current methods can be time-consuming, requiring improvements in sample preparation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an optimized, rapid sample preparation technique for carotenoid analysis.
- To improve the direct High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of carotenoids without concentration steps.
- To identify and quantify carotenoids and their isomers in various fruits.
Main Methods:
- Tested various blending times (1, 3, 5 min) and solvent combinations for carotenoid extraction from cantaloupe and oranges.
- Employed Liquid Chromatography-Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-APCI-QTOF-HR-MS) for identification.
- Validated the optimized method across multiple fruit types and commercial products.
Main Results:
- A 1-minute blending time with a CHCl3:Ace (1:1) solvent yielded higher beta-carotene in melon.
- Identified specific carotenoid contents in melon varieties (e.g., Western Shipper) and oranges.
- Reported novel identification of zeta-carotene and lycopene isomers in cantaloupe and lycopene in oranges.
Conclusions:
- The optimized method offers a faster, reproducible approach for carotenoid quantitation, reducing unit operations.
- This technique enhances the assessment of antioxidant content in fruits and food products.
- Provides new insights into the isomeric diversity of carotenoids in selected fruits.
