Lutein and lutein ester content in different types of Tagetes patula and T-erecta

Lutein and lutein fatty acid ester content in two different parts (petals and calyces) of flower-heads from different types of marigold belonging to the species Tagetes patula and T. erecta were evaluated by HPLC combined with a diode array detector (DAD). A typical chromatographic profile of pigments was characterized by the simultaneous presence of lutein and eight lutein esters. Relevant quantitative differences were found among the marigold types which had a total content of pigments ranging from 17 to 570 mg/100 g in the petals and from 0.4 to 18.6 mg/100 g in the calyces. The petal colours were also defined by the L*, a* and b* values determined by a chroma meter. Differences in petal colour were well related to the pigment content and good correlations between pigment concentration and L* and a* values were found. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.