Screening and HPLC methods for carotenoids in sweet potato, cassava and maize for plant breeding trials

Kimura, Mieko, Kobori, Cintia N., Rodriguez-Amaya, Delia B. and Nestel, Penelope (2007) Screening and HPLC methods for carotenoids in sweet potato, cassava and maize for plant breeding trials. Food Chemistry, 100 (4), 1734-1746. (doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.10.020).

Abstract

Analytical methods for sweetpotato, cassava and maize were developed. In orange and salmon-fleshed sweetpotatoes, (all-E)-?-carotene predominated and results of spectrophotometric screening and HPLC quantification did not differ significantly. In yellow-fleshed sweetpotato and cassava, however, spectrophotometric screening overestimated the HPLC values because of the presence of several minor carotenoids. Aside from (all-E)-?-carotene, Z-isomers were present in cassava in appreciable amounts. For both crops, extraction with acetone or tetrahydrofuran:methanol (1:1), using a mortar and pestle or a Polytron homogenizer, gave equivalent results. Rehydration of dry maize at room temperature for 30 min or at 85 °C for 5, 10 or 15 min gave equivalent results. Concentrations obtained with the C18 and C30 columns did not differ significantly for zeaxanthin, lutein, ?-cryptoxanthin and ?-carotene in the all-E-configuration, but their Z-isomers were difficult to locate in the chromatogram obtained with the C30 column. Extraction with tetrahydrofuran:methanol (1:1) gave significantly lower results for zeaxanthin and lutein.

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