CAROTENOID PHOTOSTABILITY IN RAW SPINACH AND CARROTS DURING COLD-STORAGE

A reverse-phase gradient HPLC method was developed for separating xant hophylls, chlorophylls, carotenes and cis beta-carotene isomers from r aw spinach and carrots. The effect of dark and lighted cold storage on pigment stability was studied. Light promoted pigment losses in raw s pinach. Degradative losses at 8 days ranged from 60% for violaxanthin to 22% for lutein. Dark, cold storage did not affect carotenoid levels except for all-trans beta-carotene which showed an 18% loss at 8 days . In raw carrots, neither lighted nor dark cold storage affected major carotenoids. In spinach, the isomeric distribution of beta-carotene s howed strong linear correlations between trans and cis forms.