Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
Viktória Lilla Balázs
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Rókus utca 2, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Viktor Sándor
Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Attila Agócs
Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Veronika Nagy
Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Sándor Balázs Király
Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Tibor Kurtán
Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Péter Molnár
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Rókus utca 2, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
József Deli
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Rókus utca 2, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
The carotenoid composition of the flower of Telekia speciosa was investigated for the first time by HPLC-DAD-MS. In addition to the main carotenoid lutein and its geometrical isomers, 5,6-epoxy-carotenoids, namely violaxanthin, lutein 5,6-epoxide and antheraxanthin, were detected in larger amounts. In addition, β-carotene 5,6-epoxide and β-carotene 5,6,5′,6′-diepoxide were found, which occurs very rarely in plants. For unambigous identification, β-carotene 5,6-epoxide and β-carotene 5,6,5′,6′-diepoxide were prepared semisynthetically, and they were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR and HPLC-CD methods.
