First complete quali-quantitative carotenoids characterization of Aiphanes aculeata, Quararibea cordata and Garcinia intermedia fruits

Abstract

Several tropical fruits are important sources of bioactive molecules. The carotenoid composition of three fruits, Corozo, Sastra and Yellow sapote, from the area of Panama, was investigated in order to provide for the first time the complete quali-quantitative carotenoid profile. The carotenoid content in Yellow sapote was related to the fruit size, being higher in smaller fruits. Zeaxanthin was one of the main carotenoids in all fruits, and very high amounts of β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene were determined in Sastra and Corozo (respectively, 70.8 μg/g and 32.2 μg/g in Sastra and 181.9 μg/g and 74.7 μg/g in Corozo); moreover, Corozo showed also a very high amount of lycopene (45.2 μg/g). Considering the here determined high carotenoids content and the fact that the investigated fruits are little commercialized and found in areas where vitamin A deficiency is still widespread, their production and use as source of bioactives should be much improved.

Keywords

• Carotenoids
• Corozo
• Sastra
• Yellow sapote
• HPLC-PDA-MS