Carotenoids and Norisoprenoids as Carotenoid Degradation Products in Pandan Leaves (Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.)

Leaves from Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb., known as pandan leaves, are used as natural colorants, natural flavor, and herbal medicine in Indonesia. These leaves are sources of natural colorants, which are mostly of carotenoid origin. In addition, carotenoids can act as precursors of several aroma impact compounds such as norisoprenoids. The research objective of this study was to determine carotenoids by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography photo diode array and to determine norisoprenoids by Head Space Solid Phase Micro Extraction Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometry (HS-SPME GC-MS) with the aim to promote pandan leaves as potential natural flavor and natural colorants. β-carotene and lutein were found as major carotenoids in pandan leaves. Three different norisoprenoids (α-ionone, β-ionone, and β-cyclocitral) were identified in pandan leaves along with their carotenoid precursors (α-carotene and β-carotene).