Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Western Human Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #156928
Title: EXTRACTION AND CHROMATOGRAPHY OF CAROTENOIDS FROM PUMPKIN POWDER

Author
item SEO, JUNG SOOK - YUENGNAM UNIV.DAEGU KOREA
item QUAN, ZHEJIU - YUENGNAM UNIV.DAEGU
item Burri, Betty
item Neidlinger, Terry

Submitted to: Journal of Chromatography A
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2005
Publication Date: 12/15/2004
Citation: Seo, J., Quan, Z., Burri, B.J., Neidlinger, T.R. Extraction and chromatography of carotenoids from pumpkin powder. Liquid Chromatography International Symposium. Journal of Chromatography A, 1073:371-375, 2005.

Interpretive Summary: We measured the carotenoids in pumpkin powder, which is a popular Korean food that we thought might be useful for preventing vitamin A deficiency. We found that pumpkin powder is a very good source of beta-carotene. This means that our hypothesis was correct, and that pumpkin powder should be useful for preventing vitamin A deficiency.

Technical Abstract: Vitamin A deficiency is a major health problem in Southeast Asia that is currently treated with commercial vitamin A supplements. There are ongoing public health initiatives that seek to prevent vitamin A deficiency by feeding pregnant women and children at risk fruits and vegetables that are rich sources of provitamin A carotenoids. Pumpkin powder is a traditional Korean food that is widely eaten especially during the Fall. It is one of the foods recommended for postpartum women in Korea. Pumpkin powder might be an excellent source of provitamin A carotenoids for preventing vitamin A deficiency, since it is a stable product that is easy to store and transport,it is already enjoyed by Koreans, and is believed to have health benefits. However, the carotenoids in pumpkin powder have not been identified or measured. We extracted carotenoids by two methods: liquid-liquid extraction and supercritical fluid extraction using an Isco extractor with CO2. We measured the carotenoid composition of pumpkin powder by reversed-phase liquid chromatography using diode array detection. The major carotenoid in pumpkin powder is beta-carotene. Other carotenoids present in pumpkin powder include alpha-carotene and cis-beta-carotene. Our results show that pumpkin powder is a rich source of carotenoids, and suggest that this food might be very useful for public health interventions seeking to prevent vitamin A deficiency. This research was supported by a grant (R4-2002-000-00160-0) from KOSEF and funding by the USDA.