Carotenoids and antioxidant capacities from Canarium odontophyllum Miq. fruit

Carotenoids were isolated and identified from peel, pulp and seed fractions of Canarium odontophyllum Miq., and their antioxidant capacities were evaluated. all-trans-β-carotene was present in a large amount in peel (69.5 ± 1.0 mg/kg), followed by pulp (31.1 ± 0.76 mg/kg) and seed (15.1 ± 3.0 mg/kg). Additionally, 15-cis-β-carotene, 9-cis-β-carotene and 13-cis-β-carotenes were also major contributors to carotenoid contents in peel, pulp and seed fractions. Pulp exhibited excellent β-carotene bleaching activity, significantly higher than peel and seed; high 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, whereas peel exhibited significantly higher scavenging activity of 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals. All the extracts exhibited good inhibitory effect against hydrogen peroxide-induced haemoglobin oxidation, ranging from 45.3 to 59.7%. This is the first report about carotenoids and antioxidant capacities from C. odontophyllum fruit, and indicates that this fruit can be explored and promoted as a potential source of natural antioxidants.