New natural carotenoid sources I. Carotenoid pigments of Medicago sativa L.

The carotenoid content of Medicago sativa L. harvested in May (1985) at Cluj-Napoca have been studied. The main carotenoid pigments found were lutein and b-carotine followed, in decreasing order, by violoxanthine, cryptoxanthine, neoxanthine, zeaxanthine and neo-b-carotine. There were a high content...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gavrila NEAMTU, Fl. IRIMIE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AcademicPres 1987-08-01
Series:Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/240
Description
Summary:The carotenoid content of Medicago sativa L. harvested in May (1985) at Cluj-Napoca have been studied. The main carotenoid pigments found were lutein and b-carotine followed, in decreasing order, by violoxanthine, cryptoxanthine, neoxanthine, zeaxanthine and neo-b-carotine. There were a high content of carotenoids with provitaminic structure (45,9%), and that of b-iononic structure, but a low content in epoxids and zeaxanthine. Only bicyclic carotenoids of alfa and beta fenonic structures have been found in stems and leaves. Due to the high biomass yield Medicago sativa L. seems suitable for industrial carotenoid production, too.
ISSN:0255-965X
1842-4309