Composition of carotenoids from commercial products of caja (Spondias lutea)

The carotenoid composition and vitamin A value of Brazilian commercial products of caja (Spondias lutea), frozen pulps and pasteurized juices, were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both products contained the following carotenoids phytoene, phytofluene, all-trans-beta -carotene, 13-cis-beta -carotene, 9-cis-beta -carotene, alpha -carotene, beta -cryptoxanthin (cis and trans), zeinoxanthin, and lutein. The major carotenoid was beta -cryptoxanthin ranging from 5.54 to 8.19 mug/g, followed by lutein (from 3.52 to 6.16 mug/g) and zeinoxanthin from 3.52 to 3.85 mug/g. beta -Cryptoxanthin was also the carotenoid which gave the greatest contribution to the vitamin A value. (C) 2001 Academic Press.