Extração de β-caroteno de cenouras: uma proposta para disciplinas experimentais de química Extraction of β-carotene from carrots: a proposal for experimetal courses in chemistry

Abstract

This paper reports on the development of a simple and fast procedure for β-carotene extraction from carrots and its quantification by UV/Vis spectroscopy. Carotenoids extracted from carrots may also be used as alternative reagents for TLC (thin layer chromatography) detection of natural compounds with antioxidant properties, replacing the commercial p.a. grade β-carotene. Although this reagent had around 10% b-carotene, it proved to be as efficient for TLC analysis as the commercial p.a. grade β-carotene. This practice is a useful alternative for teaching undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory classes.

Keywords

• β-carotene
• antioxidant
• TLC