Lutein Isomers: Preparation, Separation, Structure Elucidation, and Occurrence in 20 Medicinal Plants

Veronika Nagy; Attila Agócs; Viktória L. Balázs; Dragica Purger; Rita Filep; Viktor Sándor; Erika Turcsi; Gergely Gulyás-Fekete; József Deli

doi:10.3390/molecules28031187

Molecules (Jan 2023)

Lutein Isomers: Preparation, Separation, Structure Elucidation, and Occurrence in 20 Medicinal Plants

Veronika Nagy,
Attila Agócs,
Viktória L. Balázs,
Dragica Purger,
Rita Filep,
Viktor Sándor,
Erika Turcsi,
Gergely Gulyás-Fekete,
József Deli

Affiliations

Veronika Nagy: Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, 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
Viktória L. Balázs: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Rókus u. 2., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Dragica Purger: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Rókus u. 2., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Rita Filep: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Rókus u. 2., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Viktor Sándor: Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Erika Turcsi: Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
Gergely Gulyás-Fekete: Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
József Deli: Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12., H-7624 Pécs, Hungary

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031187
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 28, no. 3
p. 1187

Abstract

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Lutein and its cis-isomers occur in a lot of plants, including a variety of flowers. In this study, lutein isomers were produced via iodine-catalyzed isomerization, and four cis-isomers (9Z-, 9′Z-, 13Z-, and 13Z′) were isolated by means of column chromatography and semipreparative HPLC. The structures of the 9′Z- and 13′Z-isomers were elucidated via NMR measurements. These compounds were used as standards for the HPLC-DAD-MS determination of the carotenoid composition of the flowers of 20 plant species, in which lutein and its geometrical isomers are the main components. The flowers showed great variation in their cis- and trans-lutein content, and also in the presence or absence of other carotenoids, such as violaxanthin, neoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and β-carotene. Some of the investigated flowers were found to be rich sources of lutein without zeaxanthin.

Published in Molecules

ISSN: 1420-3049 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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