CAROTENOIDS FROM YELLOW PASSION-FRUIT (PASSIFLORA-EDULIS)

The following 13 carotenoids from yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edu lis) were conclusively identified: phytoene, phytofluene, zeta-caroten e (principal carotenoid), neurosporene, beta-carotene, lycopene, proly copene, monoepoxy-beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-citraurin, a ntheraxanthin, violaxanthin, and neoxanthin. Electron impact mass spec trometry, complemented by UV-visible spectrophotometry and co-chromato graphy, besides H-1 and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy f or prolycopene, was used for this purpose. Seven of the carotenoids id entified are reported as passion fruit carotenoids for the first time.