Extraction, separation and partial identification of 'Ataulfo' mango fruit carotenoids.
Yahia E. M., Ornelas-Paz J. J., Gardea A.
Author Affiliation: Human Nutrition Program, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Querétaro, Campus Jurquilla, Ave. de las Ciencias, Qro. 76213, Mexico.
: 333-338
Abstract : Carotenoids in fruits and vegetables are excellent sources for antioxidants and vitamin A. A reversed-phase HPLC method was developed in the laboratory for separation and extraction of the carotenoids in crude and saponified extracts from 'Ataulfo' mango fruit grown in México. Fruit were obtained from local markets at adequate stage of ripening and evaluated for objective colour, soluble solids and carotenoids extraction, separation and identification. The qualitative chromatographic analysis of crude extracts highlighted the existence of three main peaks which had UV-Vis spectra similar of those reported for all-trans-violaxanthin, 9-cis-violaxanthin and all-trans-?-carotene. A saponification step of crude extracts indicated that all-trans-violaxanthin and 9-cis-violaxanthin existed in esterified form while all-trans-?-carotene was found in a free state. Further LC/TOF-Mass spectroscopy analysis from the main esters of all-trans-violaxanthin and 9-cis-violaxanthin revealed that both were dibutyrates. The identity of all-trans-?-carotene was also confirmed by mass spectroscopy. The all-trans-violaxanthin levels were higher than 9-cis-violaxanthin levels, both as dibutyrates. 'Ataulfo' mangoes had high content of all-trans-?-carotene and low levels of all-trans-violaxanthin and 9-cis-violaxanthin. We conclude that the main xanthophylls from 'Ataulfo' mango are all-trans-violaxanthin dibutyrate and 9-cis-violaxanthin dibutyrate while all-trans-?-carotene was the more abundant carotene detected. These data are important to assess the value of mango carotenoids for human nutrition and health.