Storage At Low Temperature Differentially Affects The Colour And Carotenoid Composition Of Two Cultivars Of Banana.

Different storage conditions can induce changes in the colour and carotenoid profiles and levels in some fruits. The goal of this work was to evaluate the influence of low temperature storage on the colour and carotenoid synthesis in two banana cultivars: Prata and Nanicão. For this purpose, the carotenoids from the banana pulp were determined by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS, and the colour of the banana skin was determined by a colorimeter method. Ten carotenoids were identified, of which the major carotenoids were all-trans-lutein, all-trans-α-carotene and all-trans-β-carotene in both cultivars. The effect of the low temperatures was subjected to linear regression analysis. In cv. Prata, all-trans-α-carotene and all-trans-β-carotene were significantly affected by low temperature (p<0.01), with negative estimated values (β coefficients) indicating that during cold storage conditions, the concentrations of these carotenoids tended to decrease. In cv. Nanicão, no carotenoid was significantly affected by cold storage (p>0.05). The accumulation of carotenoids in this group may be because the metabolic pathways using these carotenoids were affected by storage at low temperatures. The colour of the fruits was not negatively affected by the low temperatures (p>0.05).

Cultivar influence on carotenoid composition of loquats from Brazil

Cultivar, growing conditions and geographical origin are factors that influence the carotenoid composition in fruits. Because the loquat cultivars evaluated in this study, CentenAria, Mizauto, Mizuho, Mizumo and Nectar de Cristal, have not previously been investigated, the present work was carried out to determine and compare the carotenoid composition of these five loquat cultivars, by applying high-performance liquid chromatography connected to a photodiode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-PDA-MS/MS). Twenty-five carotenoids were separated on a C(30) column, and 23 of them were identified. All-trans-beta-carotene (19-55%), all-trans-beta-cryptoxanthin (18-28%), 5,6:5`,6`-diepoxy-beta-cryptoxantilin (9-18%) and 5,6-epoxy-beta-cryptoxanthin (7-10%) were the main carotenoids. The total carotenoid content ranged from 196 mu g/100 g (cv. Nectar de Cristal) to 3020 mu g/100 g (CV. Mizumo). The carotenoid profile of cv. Nectar de Cristal was different from the other cultivars, which was in agreement with its cream pulp colour, in contrast to the other four cultivars with orange pulp colour. Cultivars Mizauto, Mizuho, Mizumo and CentenAria showed provitamin A values between 89 and 162 mu g RAE/100 g, and can be considered good source of this provitamin. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of thermal pasteurization and concentration on carotenoid composition of Brazilian Valencia orange juice

Changes in carotenoid pigment content of Brazilian Valencia orange juices due to thermal pasteurization and concentration were studied. Total carotenoid pigment content loss was not significant after thermal pasteurization and concentration. However, thermal effects on carotenoid pigment contents, especially violaxanthin and lutein, were clearly observed and significant (P < 0.05). Pasteurization reduced the content of violaxanthin by 38% and lutein by 20%. The concentration process resulted in loss of lutein (17%). With the loss of lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin became the major carotenoid in the pasteurized and concentrated juices. The provitarnin A content of the juice (beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin) and the amount of zeaxanthin, which are considered to be active against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, did not significantly decrease after pasteurization and concentration. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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 alpha-carotene, zeta-carotene, beta-carotene, alpha-cryptoxanthin, beta-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 C-18 reversed-phase column. Among these, violaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene were quantified. The total carotenoid content was 12 +/- 6.7 mg/1, and the major carotenoids were lutein (23%), beta-cryptoxanthin (21%), and zeaxanthin (20%). 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Updated Brazilian database on food carotenoids: Factors affecting carotenoid composition

This article updates the Brazilian database on food carotenoids. Emphasis is on carotenoids that have been demonstrated important to human health: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. The sampling and sample preparation strategies and the analytical methodology are presented. Possible sources of analytical errors, as well as the measures taken to avoid them, are discussed. Compositional variation due to such factors as variety/cultivar, stage of maturity, part of the plant utilized, climate or season and production technique are demonstrated. The effects of post-harvest handling, preparation, processing and storage of food on the carotenoid composition are also discussed. The importance of biodiversity is manifested by the variety of carotenoid sources and the higher levels of carotenoids in native, uncultivated or semi-cultivated fruits and vegetables in comparison to commercially produced crops. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Carotenoid composition of hydroponic leafy vegetables

Because hydroponic production of vegetables is becoming more common, the carotenoid composition of hydroponic leafy vegetables commercialized in Campinas, Brazil, was determined. All samples were collected and analyzed in winter. Lactucaxanthin was quantified for the first time and was found to have concentrations similar to that of neoxanthin in the four types of lettuce analyzed. Lutein predominated in cress, chicory, and roquette (75.4 ± 10.2, 57.0 ± 10.3, and 52.2 ± 12.6 μg/g, respectively). In the lactucaxanthin-containing lettuces, β-carotene and lutein were the principal carotenoids (ranging from 9.9 ± 1.5 to 24.6 ± 3.1 μg/g and from 10.2 ± 1.0 to 22.9 ± 2.6 μg/g, respectively). Comparison of hydroponic and field-produced curly lettuce, taken from neighboring farms, showed that the hydroponic lettuce had significantly lower lutein, β-carotene, violaxanthin, and neoxanthin contents than the conventionally produced lettuce. Because the hydroponic farm had a polyethylene covering, less exposure to sunlight and lower temperatures may have decreased carotenogenesis.

Carotenoid composition of Brazilian fruits and vegetables

Brazil has a wide diversity of food sources of carotenoids. The updated Brazilian database consists of more than 270 items of fruits, vegetables and their prepared and processed products. The database demonstrates variations due to variety, maturity, production technique, climate and processing. Many of these foods are not found in the US and European databases. Good to rich sources (>20 μg/g) of β-carotene are: acerola, bocaiúva, mango 'Extreme' and tucumã. Sources of both α-carotene and β-carotene are buriti, carrot, Cucurbita moschata 'Menina Brasileira', 'Baianinha' and 'Goianinha', and red palm oil. Commercially produced and uncultivated or semi-cultivated leafy vegetables, C. maxima 'Jerimum Caboclo' and the hybrid Tetsukabuto, cooked broccoli are sources of lutein and β-carotene. The edible Tropaeolum majus flower is especially rich in lutein. Although many fruits have β-cryptoxanthin as principal carotenoid (e.g. caja, nectarine, peach, orange-fleshed papaya, tree tomato), the levels are below 20 μg/g. Good to rich sources of lycopene are guava and guava products, papaya, pitanga and pitanga juice, tomato and tomato products, and watermelon. Sources of zeaxanthin are rare; although the principal carotenoid of piqui, the amount is low, lower than that found in buriti.

Influence of ethylene on carotenoid biosynthesis during papaya postharvesting ripening

The carotenoid composition was evaluated during ripening of papaya cv. `Golden` under untreated (control) conditions and treated with ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). At the end of the experiments, the total carotenoid content in the control group (2194.4 mu g/100 g) was twice as high as that found in ethylene (1018.1 mu g/100 g) and 1-MCP (654.5 mu g/100 g) gas-treated samples. Separation of 21 carotenoids by HPLC connected to photodiode array and mass spectrometry detectors showed that no minor carotenoids seemed to be particularly favoured by the treatments. Lycopene was the major carotenoid in all untreated and gas-treated samples, ranging from 461.5 to 1321.6 mu g/100 g at the end of the experiments. According to the proposed biosynthetic pathway, lycopene is the central compound, since it is the most abundant carotenoid indicating a high stimulation of its upstream steps during ripening, and it is the source for the synthesis of other derivative compounds, such as beta-cryptoxanthin. The influence of both gas treatments on the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway was considered. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Natural variation in expression of genes associated with carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) storage root.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) storage root provides a staple food source for millions of people worldwide. Increasing the carotenoid content in storage root of cassava could provide improved nutritional and health benefits. Because carotenoid accumulation has been associated with storage root color, this study characterized carotenoid profiles, and abundance of key transcripts associated with carotenoid biosynthesis, from 23 landraces of cassava storage root ranging in color from white-to-yellow-to-pink. This study provides important information to plant breeding programs aimed at improving cassava storage root nutritional quality. RESULTS: Among the 23 landraces, five carotenoid types were detected in storage root with white color, while carotenoid types ranged from 1 to 21 in storage root with pink and yellow color. The majority of storage root in these landraces ranged in color from pale-to-intense yellow. In this color group, total ß-carotene, containing all-E-, 9-Z-, and 13-Z-ß-carotene isomers, was the major carotenoid type detected, varying from 26.13 to 76.72 %. Although no ?-carotene was observed, variable amounts of a ?-ring derived xanthophyll, lutein, was detected; with greater accumulation of ?-ring xanthophylls than of ß-ring xanthophyll. Lycopene was detected in a landrace (Cas51) with pink color storage root, but it was not detected in storage root with yellow color. Based on microarray and qRT-PCR analyses, abundance of transcripts coding for enzymes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis were consistent with carotenoid composition determined by contrasting HPLC-Diode Array profiles from storage root of landraces IAC12, Cas64, and Cas51. Abundance of transcripts encoding for proteins regulating plastid division were also consistent with the observed differences in total ß-carotene accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: Among the 23 cassava landraces with varying storage root color and diverse carotenoid types and profiles, landrace Cas51 (pink color storage root) had low LYCb transcript abundance, whereas landrace Cas64 (intense yellow storage root) had decreased HYb transcript abundance. These results may explain the increased amounts of lycopene and total ß-carotene observed in landraces Cas51 and Cas64, respectively. Overall, total carotenoid content in cassava storage root of color class representatives were associated with spatial patterns of secondary growth, color, and abundance of transcripts linked to plastid division. Finally, a partial carotenoid biosynthesis pathway is proposed.

UV-visible scanning spectrophotometry and chemometric analysis as tools for carotenoids analysis in cassava genotypes (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

In this study, the metabolomics characterization focusing on the carotenoid composition of ten cassava (Manihot esculenta) genotypes cultivated in southern Brazil by UV-visible scanning spectrophotometry and reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography was performed. Cassava roots rich in -carotene are an important staple food for populations with risk of vitamin A deficiency. Cassava genotypes with high pro-vitamin A activity have been identified as a strategy to reduce the prevalence of deficiency of this vitamin. The data set was used for the construction of a descriptive model by chemometric analysis. The genotypes of yellow-fleshed roots were clustered by the higher concentrations of cis--carotene and lutein. Inversely, cream-fleshed roots genotypes were grouped precisely due to their lower concentrations of these pigments, as samples rich in lycopene (redfleshed) differed among the studied genotypes. The analytical approach (UV-Vis, HPLC, and chemometrics) used showed to be efficient for understanding the chemodiversity of cassava genotypes, allowing to classify them according to important features for human health and nutrition.

Characterization of a high oleic oil extracted from papaya (Carica papaya L.) seeds

The physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid, tocopherol, and carotenoid composition of a crude oil extracted from papaya (Carica papaya L.) seeds, formosa variety, were investigated. The oil yield from the seeds was 29.16%. The data obtained for the analytical indexes were in agreement with those of other edible oils. The oil obtained had high oxidation resistance (77.97 hours). The major fatty acids in total lipid were oleic (71.30%), palmitic (16.16%), linoleic (6.06%), and stearic (4.73%) acid. The α and δ-tocopherol were the predominant tocopherols with 51.85 and 18.89 mg.kg-1, respectivelly. The β-cryptoxanthin (4.29 mg.kg-1) and β-carotene (2.76 mg.kg-1) were the carotenoids quantified, and the content of total phenolic compounds was 957.60 mg.kg-1. Therefore, the potential utilization of the papaya seeds for oil production seems favorable. However, toxicological studies need to be carried out before the oil is appropriate for food applications.

Effects of N supply on the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments and photoprotectors in Gracilaria tenuistipitata (Rhodophyta) cultured under UV radiation

We have studied the effects of nitrate supply under photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) plus ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure on photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and carotenoids), photoprotective UV screen mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), and photosynthetic parameters, including the maximum quantum yield (F(v)/F(m)) and electron transport rate (ETR) on the red agarophyte Gracilaria tenuistipitata. Apical tips of G. tenuistipitata were cultivated under ten different concentrations of NO(3)(-) for 7 days. It has been shown that G. tenuistipitata cultured under laboratory conditions has the ability to accumulate high amounts of MAAs following a nitrate concentration-dependent manner under PAR+UVR. Two MAAs were identified, shinorine and porphyra-334. The relative concentration of the first increased under high concentrations of nitrate, while the second one decreased. The presence of antheraxanthin is reported for the first time in this macro-algae, which also contains zeaxanthin, lutein, and beta-carotene. The accumulation of pigments, photoprotective compounds, and photosynthetic parameters of G. tenuistipitata is directly related to N availability. All variables decreased under low N supplies and reached constant maximum values with supplements higher than 0.5 mM NO(3)(-). Our results suggest a high potential to acclimation and photoprotection against stress factors (including high PAR and UVR) directly related to N availability for G. tenuistipitata.

Characterization of a high oleic oil extracted from papaya (Carica papaya L.) seeds

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influência da variedade e região de cultivo sobre compostos bioativos, atividade antioxidante e cor de laranjas de polpa vermelha

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)