γ-Carotene

The Uses of γ-Carotene

γ-Carotene may be used as a reference standard in the determination of γ-carotene in fruits using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS).

Definition

ChEBI: A cyclic carotene obtained by the cyclisation of lycopene.

General Description

γ-Carotene is a plant carotenoid with provitamin A activity.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Metabolite in carotenoid biosynthesis and the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites.

Purification Methods

Purify γ-carotene by chromatography on alumina [Grade II in pet ether (b 60-80o) and elute with *C6H6], or magnesia columns. When crystallised from *C6H6/MeOH (2:1), it had m 177.5o. Store it in the dark, under an inert atmosphere at 0o, or in an evacuated tube at -20o. The purity is verified by TLC on Ca(OH)2/Kieselgel (8:2) using pet ether (b 60-80o) as eluant. [Manchand et al. J Chem Soc 2019 1965, Beilstein 5 III 2453, 5 IV 2617.]