Abstract
The carotenoid composition of the silk tissue of Zea mays (L.) has not been investigated despite its large occurrence in maize grains. For the purpose of evaluating maize silk as a source of carotenoids, samples from eight landraces developed and cultivated in Southern Brazil were assayed. The silk samples were harvested from individual plants through the fourth and seventh day after they emerged, frozen in liquid N2, and lyophilized. The carotenoids were extracted with a MeOH/toluene solution (1:1, v/v), 30 min, and saponified (15% KOH, 12 h, 40℃). The RP-HPLC-UV-visible analysis revealed lutein as the main carotenoid (88.75%) in maize silks, with a wide range of contents (dry weight), i.e. 39.11 ?g?g-1 (Palha Roxa 18) to 176.12 ?g?g-1 (Lingua de Papagaio) among the studied genotypes. Smaller amounts of trans-β-carotene, α-carotene, and zeaxanthin were also detected. The results revealed that in parallel to the claimed high genetic variability of maize landraces, a quite variable carotenoidic composition of silk tissue seems to occur in the germoplasm cultivated in Southern Brazil. Taking into account the usage of lutein for the prevention of several pathologies, especially the age related macular degeneration, some maize landraces (e.g. Lingua de Papagaio and Rosado) might be interesting sources of a lutein-rich extract that could add value to an underutilized biomass.
Highlights
The carotenoids are pigments that have been widely distributed in nature and that are responsible for the coloring of several foods, varying from yellow to red
The results revealed that in parallel to the claimed high genetic variability of maize landraces, a quite variable carotenoidic composition of silk tissue seems to occur in the germoplasm cultivated in Southern Brazil
It is estimated that about 50 carotenoids might be important to human nutrition and that at least 40 of them act as precursors in the synthesis of retinoid compounds, the bioactive forms of vitamin A [1], with the exception of the xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin
Summary
The carotenoids are pigments that have been widely distributed in nature and that are responsible for the coloring of several foods, varying from yellow to red. Evidence suggests that lutein consumption in inversely related to AMD and other eye diseases This is supported by the finding that lutein and zeaxanthin are deposited in the lens and the macula lutea, an area of the retina responsible for central and high acuity vision [9]. These protective effects of xanthophylls have been related to their properties of oxygen free radical scavengers and act as a filter of high energy blue light [10]
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