Methods for the efficient quantification of fruit provitamin A contents

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A Vol. 1136; no. 2; pp. 176 - 184
• Main Authors: Davey, Mark W., Keulemans, Johan, Swennen, Rony
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.12.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alkalies; Analytical chemistry; Banana; Biofortification; Biological and medical sciences; Carotenoids - analysis; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods; Drug Stability; Exact sciences and technology; Food industries; Freeze Drying - methods; Fruit; Fruit - chemistry; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrolysis; Musa; Musa - chemistry; Other chromatographic methods; Oxidation-Reduction; Provitamin A carotenoids; Reproducibility of Results; Spectrophotometry - methods; Vitamin A; Vitamin A - analysis; Biofortification; Vitamin A; Musa; Fruit; Provitamin A carotenoids; Banana; Monocotyledones; Chemical analysis; Vitamin; HPLC chromatography; Solvent extraction; Sample preparation; Angiospermae; Quantitative analysis; Musaceae; Saponification; Retinol; Reversed phase chromatography; Vegetable crop; Fruit crop; Spermatophyta; Plantain banana; Spectrophotometry; Carotenoid; Ultraviolet visible spectrometry
• ISSN: 0021-9673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2006.09.077

As part of a screening program to identify micronutrient-rich banana and plantain ( Musa) varieties, a simple, robust, and comparatively rapid protocol for the quantification of the provitamin A carotenoids contents of fruit pulp and peel tissues by HPLC and by spectrophotometry has been developed. Major points to note include the use lyophilisation and extensive tissue disruption procedures to ensure quantitative recoveries, and the avoidance of saponification and/or concentration steps which lead to significant losses of provitamin A carotenoids. The protocol showed excellent reproducibility between replicate extractions, without the need for an internal standard. Application of the methodology demonstrated that Musa fruit pulp has a relatively simple provitamin A carotenoids content, quite different from the overlying peel, and that the proportions of α- and β-carotene are characteristic for each genotype. The protocol was also used to profile the provitamin A carotenoids of several other fruits.