Chemataxonomic researches in higher plants. XV Carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments in the leaves of Cannabis sativa L.

Abstract

In the leaves of Cannabis sativa L. were found the following carotenoid pigments: ?-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, violaxanthin, neoxanthin and ?-cryptoxanthin. The ratio between the content of ?-carotene and lutein - which are the principal foliar carotenoids - was supraunitary, a feature that might be used as a chemotaxonomic criterion. It is worth to be mentioned the relatively high content of zeaxanthin and ?-cryptoxanthin in comparison with the level of these pigments in the leaves of most higher plants. The ratio between the content of chlorophyll a and b was of 2,17.

Keywords

• carotenoid pigments
• chlorophyll
• Cannabis sativa