Application of a validated method for the determination of provitamin A carotenoids in Indonesian foods of different maturity and origin.
Hulshof P. J. M., Xu Chao, Bovenkamp P. van de, Muhilal, West C. E.
Author Affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 45 : 1174-1179
Abstract : Provitamin A carotenoids were measured using a validated HPLC method in a number of selected leafy vegetables of different maturity and origin, sweet potatoes and mangoes from Indonesia. Mean provitamin A content/100 g of edible portion was 492 retinol equivalents (RE) for water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica; n=8), 640 RE for spinach (Amaranthus viridis; n=8), 1776 RE for cassava leaves (Manihot utulissima; n=8), 992 RE for papaya leaves (Carica papaya; n=9), 1889 RE for sweet shoot leaves (Sauropus androgynus; n=4), 289 RE for jointfir spinach (Gnetum gemon; n=2), 6 RE for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas; n=22) and 250 RE for mango (Mangifera indica; n=11). Provitamin A content was significantly higher in dark green (mature) leaves (24% on average) than in young leaves. Leafy vegetables collected on the market had significantly lower levels of provitamin A compared to those of field samples (19% on average). Provitamin A content for most, but not all, vegetables was lower than values reported in Indonesian food tables.