19-08-2014, 12:04 PM
Carotenoids, which are C40 tetraterpenoids, are yellow, orange, or red pigments, which are widely distributed in the plant and animal kingdoms. The ripe fruits of paprika (Capsicum annum L.) have been used widely as vegetables and food colorants, which are good sources of carotenoid pigments. The ripe fruits of paprika were dried, powdered and extracted with petroleum ether at room temperature.
Carotenoids, which are C40 tetraterpenoids, are yellow, orange, or red pigments, which are widely distributed in the plant and animal kingdoms. The ripe fruits of paprika (Capsicum annum L.) have been used widely as vegetables and food colorants, which are good sources of carotenoid pigments. The ripe fruits of paprika were dried, powdered and extracted with petroleum ether at room temperature. The extract was saponified using alcoholic potassium hydroxide to liberate the carotenoids from their ester forms. The free carotenoids were extracted in ether or benzene. This organic layer was then washed with water and dried and then diluted with petroleum ether. This mixture on standing gave a solid that was a mixture of a few compounds.Capsanthin was separated from the other carotenoids present in the solid by fractionation and characterized.