Qualitative and quantitative differences in the carotenoid composition of yellow and red peppers determined by HPLC-DAD-MS

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The carotenoids of a yellow (F(1) Amanda hybrid) and a red (F(1) Magali hybrid) pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) at the ripe stage, marketed in Campinas, Brazil, were identified by the combined use of the chromatographic behavior, absorption spectra, and chemical reactions, confirmed by the mass spectra. HPLC was carried out with a Spherisorb ODS 2 (C18, monomeric, 3 mu m, 4.6 x 150 mm) column and DAD and mass detector. The main carotenoids in the yellow pepper were violaxanthin (27.1-36.6 mu g/g), lutein (5.3-9.3 mu g/g), and beta-carotene (1.6-3.9 mu g/g). Neoxanthin, (Z)-violaxanthin, (Z)-antheraxanthin, (Z)-lutein, alpha-cryptoxanthin, beta-cryptoxantliin, zeta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and phytofluene were also found as minor carotenoids. In red pepper, the major carotenoids were capsanthin (29.2-36.2 mu g/g), lutein (5.8-8.7 mu g/g), beta-carotene (5.1-6.8 mu g/g), and violaxanthin (1.8-3.6 mu g/g), Minor carotenoids were capsorubin, beta-apo-8'-carotenal, antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin.3221SI36523658Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq [66.2307/1996-8