Carotenoids and ascorbic acid composition from commercial products of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.)

Carotenoids were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ascorbic acid (AA) by the official method of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) in cashew apple products found on the market of Campinas, Brazil. The following products, concentrated juice, frozen pulp, nectar, ready-to-drink, and sweetened concentrated juice, were analyzed, showing AA contents from 13.7 to 121.7 mg/100 g and total carotenoid levels ranging from 8.2 to 197.8 μg/100 g. β-Carotene was the main carotenoid in the majority of the products, followed by α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and 9-cis- +13-cis-β-carotene in similar proportions. However, in 10 of the 60 samples analyzed, another carotenoid pattern was found with the presence of auroxanthin, 5,8-epoxy-cryptoxanthin, 5,8-epoxy-lutein, ζ-carotene and two unidentified carotenoids. Cashew apple products were proved to be excellent sources of vitamin C, but not very good sources of carotenoids for the human diet.