Accelerated solvent extraction of carotenoids from: Tunisian Kaki (Diospyros kaki L.), peach (Prunus persica L.) and apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)

Food Chem. 2015 Oct 1:184:131-9. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.03.072. Epub 2015 Mar 26.

Abstract

Extraction of carotenoids from biological matrices and quantifications remains a difficult task. Accelerated solvent extraction was used as an efficient extraction process for carotenoids extraction from three fruits cultivated in Tunisia: kaki (Diospyros kaki L.), peach (Prunus persica L.) and apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.). Based on a design of experiment (DoE) approach, and using a binary solvent consisting of methanol and tetrahydrofuran, we could identify the best extraction conditions as being 40°C, 20:80 (v:v) methanol/tetrahydrofuran and 5 min of extraction time. Surprisingly and likely due to the high extraction pressure used (103 bars), these conditions appeared to be the best ones both for extracting xanthophylls such as lutein, zeaxanthin or β-cryptoxanthin and carotenes such as β-carotene, which present quite different polarities. Twelve surface responses were generated for lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene in kaki, peach and apricot. Further LC-MS analysis allowed comparisons in carotenoids profiles between the fruits.

Keywords: Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE); Apricot; Carotenoids; Design of experiment (DoE); Kaki; Peach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calibration
  • Carotenoids / analysis
  • Carotenoids / isolation & purification*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Diospyros / chemistry*
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Lutein / analysis
  • Lutein / isolation & purification
  • Prunus armeniaca / chemistry*
  • Prunus persica / chemistry*
  • Solvents
  • Tunisia
  • Zeaxanthins / analysis
  • Zeaxanthins / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Solvents
  • Zeaxanthins
  • Carotenoids
  • Lutein