Major carotenoid composition of Brazilian Valencia orange juice: Identification and quantification by HPLC

The carotenoid composition of Brazilian Valencia orange juice was determined by open column chromatography (OCC) and high-performance liquid chromatography. Carotenoid pigments were extracted using acetone and saponified using 10% methanolic potassium hydroxide. Sixteen pigments were isolated by OCC and identified as α-carotene, ζ-carotene, β-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein-5,6-epoxide, violaxanthin, lutein, antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin, luteoxanthin A, luteoxanthin B, mutatoxanthin A, mutatoxanthin B, auroxanthin B and trollichrome B. Thirteen carotenoid pigments were separated using a ternary gradient (acetonitrile–methanol–ethyl acetate) elution on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column. Among these, violaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, ζ-carotene, α-carotene, and β-carotene were quantified. The total carotenoid content was 12 ± 6.7 mg/l, and the major carotenoids were lutein (23%), β-cryptoxanthin (21%), and zeaxanthin (20%).