Carotenoids and carotene profile of selected vegetables with reference to some unconventional food

Abstract

Aim of the study was to analysis of carotenoids and carotene profile in selected unconventional vegetables grown Bangladesh. Twenty seven unconventional vegetables comprising 23 leafy and 4 non-leafy were collected from Gazipur, Mymensing and Chittagong Hill Tracts for analysis of carotenoids and carotene profile comprising α-carotene, β-carotene, lutein, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin. Total carotenoids were estimated by ‘acetone-petroleum-ether’ extraction followed by passing through a chromatographic open column to remove chlorophyll (except OFSP root). Yellow color eluent thus obtained, was injected into reverse phase C18 column using the mobile phase (acetonitrile: methanol: 2-propanol 85:15:33 with 0.01% ammonium acetate), flowing at 1.7 ml/min, detector set at 450 nm. Or 470 nm. It was observed that among non-leafy vegetables, total carotenoid content was in the range of 65.18 (Rakhal shosha) to 1202.38 (mulachi) μg per 100g edible. In the leafy vegetables, carotenoids contained was noted highest (9696.82 μg per 100g edible) in the leaves of orange flesh sweet potato, next was highest in the tetul pata (5313.83 μg per 100g edible) and the lowest amount was in telakucha leaves (72.05 μg per 100g edible) .Of the leafy vegetables, shetoddhron contained highest amount of β-carotene (1422.55 μg per 100g edible) followed by chimti shak (1115.9 μg per 100g edible), orhor leave (994.81 μg per 100g edible ); lutein content was highest (2303.01μg per 100g edible) in tetul pata, next in kachuripana (566.33 μg per 100g edible); α-carotene, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin contents were in the range of 8.0 (shornalata) to 72.41 (orhor leave), 1.05 (venna pata) to 10.60 (shetodhron) and 2.13 (shetodhron) to 36.70 (tetul pata) μg per 100g edible respectively. mulachi contained all of the carotenes tested, of which leutin content was highest (165.51 μg per 100g edible); orhor seed contained 106.26μg β-carotene per 100g edible. It was seen that most of vegetables did not have α- carotene, lycopene, β–cryptoxanthin or it were in so small amount that are not detectable with HPLC. It can be suggested that regular intake of these unconventional vegetables may provide provitamin A. In order to address the micronutrient deficiency and to maintain the biodiversity, analysis of nutrient composition of these unconventional rare foods is to be initiated and make it available to mass population.