Carotenoids identification by HPTLC-MS and vitamin C content of fruits of Saba senegalensis (A. DC) Pichon

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Résumé

Saba senegalensis fruits have gained more attention in recent years due to their antioxidant
compounds such as carotenoids, phenolics, vitamin C. This study was designed to identify the main
carotenoids from S. senegalensis fruits including phenolics and vitamin C quantifications. Carotenoid
profiles from tissues of these fruits have been characterized by High Performance Thin Layer
Chromatography- mass spectrometry (HPTLC-MS) for the first time. Phenolics and vitamin C contents
were studied using spectrophotometric and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array
detector (HPLC-DAD) methods, respectively. Using the Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent, total phenolics
content was estimated to be around 630 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g fresh fruit of S. senegalensis.
The HPLC analysis showed vitamin C content of about 1511 µg/100 g fresh weight. Three xanthophylls
(antheraxanthin, lutein, and β-cryptoxanthin), and two hydrocarbon carotenes (β-carotene and
phytoene) were identified in the saponified extract of fruits. For radical-scavenging activity, using 2,2-
diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, S. senegalensis fruits extract was estimated to be 75 mg of
Trolox equivalents/100 g fresh weight for whole fruit. Results obtained indicate that S. senegalensis
fruits are a cheap source of carotenoids and other micronutrients. They are important for industrials
and as an ingredient used in functional food formulation.

Mots-clés

Carotene, β-carotene, pigment, antioxidants, fruit extract, functional food