Carotenoids and β-carotene in orange fleshed sweet potato: A possible solution to vitamin A deficiency.

Abstract

The present study, in line with a plant-food-based approach to address vitamin A deficiency, reports the analysis of total carotenoids, and trans- and cis-β-carotenes, in different varieties of raw and boiled orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP). Carotenoids were isolated using acetone-petroleum ether extraction followed by spectrophotometric determination. trans- and cis-β-Carotenes were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC method using a mobile phase containing acetonitrile:methanol:2-propanol in the ratio of 85:15:33 with 0.01% ammonium acetate. Intra-varietal difference in carotenoids as well as trans- and cis-β-carotenes were noted in both the raw and boiled potatoes. Carotenoid content was found to be higher in the raw potatoes compared to the boiled samples from the same variety. Amongst the OFSP varieties, Kamalasundari (BARI SP-2) was found to contain the most carotenoids in both the raw and boiled samples. β-Carotene was significantly higher in the Kamalsundari and BARI SP-5 varieties. trans-β-Carotene was found to be the major carotenoid in all of the raw potatoes, but boiling was associated with an increase in cis-β-carotene and a decrease in the trans isomer. Kamalsundari and BARI SP-5 orange-fleshed sweet potatoes have the potential to be used as food-based supplements to reduce vitamin A deficiency.

• Authors: Sheikh Nazrul Islam, Tania Nusrat, Parveen Begum, Monira Ahsan
• Journal: Food chemistry (Food Chem) Vol. 199 Pg. 628-31 (May 15 2016) ISSN: 1873-7072 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26776017 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• beta Carotene
• Carotenoids

Topics

• Carotenoids (chemistry)
• Citrus sinensis
• Ipomoea batatas (chemistry)
• Vitamin A Deficiency (metabolism)
• beta Carotene (analysis, chemistry)