A modified method to minimise losses of carotenoids and tocopherols during HPLC analysis of red palm oil

A well-established saponification method for red palm oil was compared with a newly developed enzymatic hydrolysis method followed by analysis using highperformance liquid chromatography. Applying the saponification method to extract carotenoids from red palm oil resulted in soap precipitation and significant losses of alpha- and beta-carotene (P<0.01) and alpha-tocopherol (P<0.05). The process also facilitated the isomerisation of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene (P<0.05). Using the non-specific Candida cylindracea lipase, complete hydrolysis of red palm oil was achieved after 4 h and no significant loss of carotenoids and tocopherols occurred during the extraction procedure. Mild hydrolysis with the use of Candida cylindracea lipase enables quantitative analysis of carotenoids and tocopherols in red palm oil without isomerisation or destruction of either carotenoids or tocopherols. The present method is comparable or shorter in time than the conventional saponification method. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.