Carotenoid Composition of Cionosicyos macranthus Fruit

Abstract

A complete determination of the carotenoid composition of the edible aril and mesocarp of Cionosicyos macranthus fruit is reported for the first time. The carotenoids present in the fruit were identified and quantified using high-purity carotenoid standards. The fruit contained several rare carotenoids like zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and cryptocapsin epoxides. Various keto-κ end-ring carotenoids, derivatives of their corresponding epoxides, ie cryptocapsin, capsanthin, capsanthin 5,6-epoxide, and capsoneoxanthin, were also identified. The total carotenoid contents for the aril and mesocarp were 226.0 μg/g and 83.4 µg/g, respectively. β-Cryptoxanthin was the most abundant carotenoid in both edible parts (58.3 μg/g in the aril and 29.5 μg/g in the mesocarp). Cryptocapsin was the primary keto-κ end-ring carotenoid both in the aril (41.6 μg/g) and in the mesocarp (13.2 μg/g). The fruit provitamin A activity was also determined. Considering the high β-cryptoxanthin and cryptocapsin contents, C. macranthus can be considered a good source of provitamin A carotenoids.