Oxidative stability of tocochromanols, carotenoids, and fatty acids in maize (Zea mays L.) porridges with varying phytate concentrations during cooking and in vitro digestion.

Phytic acid, the main storage form of phosphate in maize (Zea mays L.) grains, is known as antinutrient due to its chelating properties but may also prevent oxidation. Thus, the impact of phytic acid on the degradation of tocochromanols, carotenoids, fatty acids, and oxidation products in maize during cooking and subsequent in vitro digestion was examined. Maize porridges from low phytic acid maize flour with or without admixed phytate, or from high phytic acid maize flour were prepared, and digestion experiments conducted. HPLC-(MS) or GC-MS analyses revealed a significant decrease in tocochromanols, carotenoids, and unsaturated fatty acids in the digesta compared to the maize porridges while α-tocopherylquinone and malondialdehyde concentrations increased. The addition of phytic acid did not affect the digestive stabilities of total tocochromanols and carotenoids, but increased micellarisation efficiencies of carotenoids. In conclusion, phytate did not exert antioxidant effects in maize porridge during cooking or simulated digestion.

The distribution of phosphorus, carotenoids and tocochromanols in grains of four Chinese maize (Zea mays L.) varieties.

Grains of three specialty maize varieties and one conventional maize variety cultivated in China were collected and dissected to obtain the germ, endosperm, and pericarp fraction, and the distribution pattern of phosphorus, carotenoids, and tocochromanols was determined. The results showed that phytochemical contents varied significantly among different maize fractions. The germ fraction accounted for 78.3 to 86.5% of the total phosphorus present in the maize kernels. Over 86.9% of carotenoids were located in the endosperm. Except for waxy maize, 64.5 to 74.8% of the tocochromanols were contributed by the germ. Considerable differences in phytochemical contents were observed between the genotypes. Waxy maize contained the highest content of tocopherols, tocotrienols and tocochromanols meanwhile waxy maize had the lowest carotenoid and phytate phosphorus content. High lysine maize contained the highest levels in carotenoids and lowest tocochromanols. Over all, total carotenoids were significantly inversely associated with total tocochromanols.

Location and Variety but Not Phosphate Starter Fertilization Influence the Profiles of Fatty Acids, Carotenoids, and Tocochromanols in Kernels of Modern Corn (Zea mays L.) Hybrids Cultivated in Germany.

Phosphate is a limiting plant nutrient and essential for corn growth and development. Thus, the impact of phosphate fertilization, location, and the variety of modern corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids on the profiles of fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocochromanols (vitamin E) was assessed in corn grains. Eight different corn hybrids were grown with (52.9 kg of phosphorus per ha) or without starter fertilizer at three experimental sites in Germany. Location (p < 0.05) and genetics (p < 0.001) but not phosphate fertilization significantly altered the concentrations of individual saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocochromanols. Significant (p < 0.05) interaction effects on the concentrations were mainly observed between the variety and the location. In conclusion, the choice of the corn variety had a more significant impact on the biosynthesis of fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocochromanols than the location or phosphate application on phosphate-sufficient soils.

Characterization of the Pale Yellow Petal/Xanthophyll Esterase gene family in citrus as candidates for carotenoid esterification in fruits.

In orange-pigmented citrus fruits, the xanthophyll esters are the predominant carotenoids, but their biosynthetic origin is currently unknown. In this work, seven PYP/XES (Pale Yellow Petal/ Xanthophyll esterase) genes were identified in Citrus genomes, but only PYP1-4 and 6 contained the structural domains essential for activity. The PYP/XES expression profiles in sweet orange and in other Citrus species such as lemon, mandarin and pummelo with marked differences in fruit pigmentation and content of xanthophylls esters, showed the upregulation of PYP1,2 and 6 genes during ripening only in orange-pigmented fruits. Moreover, transcript levels of PYP1, 2 and 6 genes in peel and pulp of sweet orange were accompanied by the accumulation of xanthophyll esters during ripening. This work reports for the first time the PYP/XES gene family in Citrus and strongly suggests its involvement in xanthophyll esterification in citrus fruit tissues and its influence in carotenoid accumulation and fruit pigmentation.

HPLC-DAD-APCI-MSn analysis of the genuine carotenoid pattern of pineapple (Ananas comosus [L.] Merr.) infructescence.

The genuine carotenoid pattern of pineapple infructescence was assessed by HPLC-DAD-APCI-MSn analysis. Prevailing pigments in the shell of 'MD2' (syn. "Extra Sweet") fruit were (all-E)-lutein and (all-E)-ß-carotene, in addition to chlorophylls a and b. The edible flesh contained (all-E)-violaxanthin, (all-E)-ß-carotene, and diverse esters of (9Z)-violaxanthin with caprylic, capric, lauric, and myristic acid. The latter esters have been reported for the first time as pineapple constituents. Total carotenoid concentrations in the edible fractions of the four varieties 'Sugar Loaf', 'Smooth Cayenne', 'MD2', and 'Queen Victoria' cultivated in Ghana ranged between 29 and 565 µg/100 g of fresh weight (FW). Total carotenoids in the flesh of fully ripe 'MD2' fruit exported by air freight amounted to 302 µg/100 g of FW, those in green ripe samples dispatched by sea freight to 359-432 µg/100 g of FW. All yellow fleshed cultivars exhibited a highly similar qualitative carotenoid profile.

(Poly)phenols, Carotenoids, and Tocochromanols in Corn (Zea mays L.) Kernels As Affected by Phosphate Fertilization and Sowing Time.

Corn (Zea mays L.) growth and development is often limited by the availability of phosphate. We thus hypothesized that phosphate fertilization may increase the contents of (poly)phenols, carotenoids, and tocochromanols (vitamin E) in corn grains. Corn plants cultivated on a soil fertilized with 44 kg phosphorus/ha were compared to plants grown on soil with low plant-available phosphate (1.6 mg CAL-P/100 g of soil), each sown early (April) and late (May) in a randomized field experiment. HPLC-DAD-(HR)-ESI-MSn revealed 19 soluble and 10 insoluble (poly)phenols, comprising phenolic acids, phenolic amines, diferulic, and triferulic acids in corn grains. Contents of individual (poly)phenols, carotenoids, and tocochromanols in whole grains were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by sowing time, but not by phosphate fertilization. In conclusion, low phosphate availability did not impair the biosynthesis of (poly)phenols, carotenoids, and tocochromanols in corn grains.

Genuine Carotenoid Profiles in Sweet Orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. Navel] Peel and Pulp at Different Maturity Stages.

The carotenogenesis in the endocarp and flavedo of Navel oranges over four consecutive maturity stages was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-multistage mass spectrometry. After optimization of the extraction method, 77 carotenoids, including 26 monoesters and 33 diesters of violaxanthin, ß-citraurin, and antheraxanthin, were characterized. Whereas chloroplast-specific pigments, such as (all-E)-lutein and (all-E)-ß-carotene, predominated in the flavedo of green-ripe fruit, a highly complex pattern of xanthophyll esters was found in the mature oranges. Total carotenoid contents of flavedo were approximately 9-fold higher [12 605 µg/100 g of fresh weight (FW)] than those in the endocarp (1354 µg/100 g of FW) at the fully mature stage. The mature endocarp abundantly contained violaxanthin mono- and diesters, in addition to diverse antheraxanthin esters, which were exclusively detected in this fruit fraction. Likewise, ß-citraurin esters were found to be unique flavedo constituents of mature fruit. Therefore, they may support the detection of fraudulent use of peel fractions during orange juice production.