Composition of Carotenoids from Commercial Products of Caja (Spondias lutea)

The carotenoid composition and vitamin A value of Brazilian commercial products of caja (Spondias lutea), frozen pulps and pasteurized juices, were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both products contained the following carotenoids: phytoene, phytofluene, all- trans - β -carotene, 13- cis -β -carotene, 9- cis - β -carotene, α -carotene, β -cryptoxanthin (cis and trans), zeinoxanthin, and lutein. The major carotenoid was β -cryptoxanthin ranging from 5.54 to 8.19 μg/g, followed by lutein (from 3.52 to 6.16 μg/g) and zeinoxanthin from 3.52 to 3.85 μg/g.β -Cryptoxanthin was also the carotenoid which gave the greatest contribution to the vitamin A value.