Albert E. Purcell

Changes in carotenoid and oil content during maturation of peanut seeds

To understand the changes in the color of peanut oil during maturation of the seeds, measurements were made of carotenoid and oil contents per kernel and carotenoid concentration of extracted peanut oil between the 4th and 12th weeks from pegging. Initially carotenoid concentration in the oil declined rapidly followed by a 50% decline between the 6th and 12th week. Changes in the carotenoid content and oil content of the peanut kernel indicated that the decrease in carotenoid concentration was due to a dilution produced by the rapid increase in oil content. Evidence is presented to indicate that the carotenoids are in areas separated from the oil containing spherosomes of the peanut kernel.

Carotenoid pigments of peanut oil

A method for analysis of carotenoid pigments in peanut oil is described. The major carotenoid pigments found in peanut oil were beta-carotene and lutein. A sample of oil from immature peanuts contained 60 µg of beta-carotene and 138 µg of lutein per liter of oil. The total carotenoid concentration in oil from mature peanuts appears to be less than 1 µg per liter of oil.

Enhancement by carotenoids of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate photoreduction in isolated chloroplasts: I. Isolation and purification of active fractions

Abstract A carotenoid fraction has been isolated from green plant tissues which enhances NADP photoreduction by isolated chloroplasts by 200–350%. It also enhances the Hill reaction with NADP as electron acceptor by 40–60%. None of the known carotenoids tested showed this activity, and it is ascribed to an as yet uncharacterized mono- or dihydroxy carotenoid probably identical with the carotenoid in the protein-carotene complex isolated from chloroplasts.

[245] Preparation of14C-β-Carotene

Publisher Summary Most of the systems used for study of carotenogenesis are deficient in either yield of β-carotene or incorporation of label. This chapter discusses method for the preparation of 14 C-β-carotene. It is found that multiple crystallization gives higher yield and greater purity than any other method. Evaporate the chromatographic fraction to dryness in vacuum and redissolve in a minimum volume of boiling hexane, about 1 ml of hexane per milligram of carotene. The minimum volume can be determined by removing hexane vapors with a stream of nitrogen while warming the flask in a water or steam bath until an insoluble ring of carotene begins to form. Specific activity can be conveniently determined by measuring the amount of β-carotene spectrophotometrically and counting a known amount in suitable 14 C counting systems. Spectrophotometric determination in hexane at 450 nm using an absorption coefficient of 0.250 mg per liter gives excellent agreement with gravimetric determination.