DETERMINATION OF ANTIOXIDANT VITAMINS IN TOMATOES

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant vitamin (vitam in E, vitamin C and beta-carotene) content of one of the most importan t vegetables, tomato, using modern analytical techniques. High-perform ance liquid chromatographic procedures allowed the separation and quan tification of these vitamins as well as their analogues in different c ultivars. Carotenoid extract could be fractionated into 14 components, including lycopene, beta-carotene and lutein as the major ones. Paire d-ion liquid chromatography provided excellent separation of ascorbic acid with high peak purity. In addition to different analogues of toco pherol, ubiquinone-10 could also be separated and sensitively detected by normal-phase chromatography and fluorescence detection. The highes t concentrations (3.15-3.98 mu g g(-1)) of total tocopherol (mainly al pha-analogue) were found in tomato fruits of Katinka, Gitana and Flori set cultivars. The vitamin C content was maximal (36-48 mg per 100 g) in DRW 3126, Primato, Tampo and Monika cultivars. The highest values f or beta-carotene were found in Monika, Ultimo and Falcato cultivars (3 .5-3.9 mu g g(-1)). The dynamics of fruit ripening were also examined. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.