HPLC AND MASS-SPECTROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF CAROTENOIDS FROM MANGO

beta-Carotene (all-trans), beta-cryptoxanthin (all-trans and cis), zea xanthin (all-trans), luteoxanthin isomers, violaxanthin (all-trans and cis), and neoxanthin (all-trans and cis) were identified in mango cul tivar Keitt by means of HPLC data (retention time, co-injection, and c hemical reactions). Mass spectrometry (molecular ion, fragmentation pa ttern, m/z relative intensity) confirmed the identity of these caroten oids (not the geometric form); additionally, lutein and mutatochrome w ere detected when a large amount of sample was utilized. The quantitat ive composition was determined by HPLC, Sudan I being used as internal standard. all-trans-Violaxanthin (21.1 +/- 2.9 mu g/g), all-trans-bet a-carotene (15.1 +/- 1.5 mu g/g), and a cis-violaxanthin (10.1 +/- 0.2 mu g/g), tentatively identified as 9-cis, were the principal caroteno ids.