Carotene and provitamin A content of vegetables sold in Viçosa, MG, Brazil, during spring and winter

Abstract

This study investigated the a-and b-carotene content and provitamin A value of four leafy vegetables sold at local and street markets in Viçosa, MG, Brazil, in the spring and winter of 2002. Carotenoids were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. a-Carotene was detected in all samples sold during spring, but was only present in a few samples of smooth and curly lettuce and kale in winter. b-Carotene was found in marked quantities in all leafy vegetables analyzed. Duncan's test (α = 5%) showed significantly higher a-carotene content in curly lettuce and vitamin A value in large-leaved watercress in the spring. Mean b-carotene content and vitamin A value were 7544, 8751, 2584, 2792, 8193, and 5338 mg/100 g and 666, 760, 227, 238, 698, and 460 mg RAE/100 g in large-leaved and hydroponic watercress, smooth and curly lettuce, kale and spinach, respectively. All leafy vegetables analyzed represent important sources of provitamin A and supply an important part of the daily requirements of children and adults.Uniterms: a-Carotene. b-Carotene. Leafy vegetables/analysis. Provitamin A.Investigou-se o conteúdo de a e b-caroteno e avaliou-se o valor pro-vitamínico A de quatro hortaliças folhosas comercializadas em mercados locais e feira-livre de Viçosa, MG durante a primavera e o inverno de 2002. Os carotenóides foram analisados por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência (CLAE). O a-caroteno foi detectado em todas as amostras analisadas na primavera, porém no inverno, somente algumas amostras de alface crespa e lisa, e couve apresentaram tal carotenóide. O b-caroteno foi encontrado, em quantidades apreciáveis, em todas as hortaliças folhosas analisadas. O teste de Duncan (α=5%) detectou que o conteúdo de a-caroteno em alface crespa e o valor de vitamina A em agrião de folha larga foram estatisticamente superiores na primavera. Os teores médios de b-caroteno e de valor de vitamina A para agrião de folha larga e hidropônico, alface crespa e lisa, couve e espinafre foram: 7544; 8751; 2584; 2792; 8193; 5338 mg/100g e 666; 760; 227; 238; 698; 460 mg RAE/100g, respectivamente. Todas as hortaliças folhosas analisadas constituem importantes fontes de provitamina A e suprem grande parte das recomendações diárias de crianças e adultos.Unitermos: a-caroteno. b-caroteno. Hortaliças folhosas/análise. Pró-vitamina A. INTRODUCTIONDark green leafy vegetables are good sources of minerals and vitamins (Raju et al., 2007), and are important because they are rich in provitamin A carotenoids (Graebner et al., 2004;Zanutto, Jordão, Vannucchi, 2003). Since humans are unable to synthesize carotenoids, they exclusively depend on dietary intake as a source of these micronutrients (Barbosa-Filho et al., 2008). Carotenoids have raised continued interest because of studies demonstrating their role in the prevention of certain types of cancer, such as lung, breast, oral cavity, colon and rectal cancer (Barbosa-Filho et al., 2008;Melendez-Martinez, Vicario, Heredia, 2004;Silva, Naves, 2001;Fontana et al., 2000;Olson, 1999;Cozzi et al., ...

Carotenoids of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Grown on Soil Enriched with Spent Coffee Grounds

“…In lettuce control groups ( Table 1 ), β-carotene ranged from 2.27 mg/100 g to 3.84 mg/100 g, on a fresh basis. These amounts are in accordance with the literature, namely with Cardoso and co-workers [ 14 ], who reported values ranging from 2.82 mg/100 g to 3.58 mg/100 g during spring season, or with Kim and co-workers [ 15 ] with 2 mg/g. Lutein ranged from 3.06 mg/100 g to 4.49 mg/100 g, also in accordance with this previous author.…”

Antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds of lettuce improved by espresso coffee residues

“…Still, in comparison with published results for Butterhead lettuce, our control group presented slightly higher lutein amounts (Table 1) than those reported by Kimura and Rodriguez-Amaya (2003) (2.14 ± 0.14 mg 100 g À1 , FW) and Mou (2005) (0.54-2.54 mg 100 g À1 , FW). As regards to b-carotene's content (Table 1), Cardoso, Lucia, Stringheta, Chaves, & Pinheiro-Sant'Ana, 2009 reported similar values, ranging from 2.10 to 3.58 mg 100 g À1 , FW. The amounts of minor carotenoids (Table 1) found in the present work are within the same range as those found in previous studies (Baslam, Moralesa, Garmendia, & Goicoechea, 2013;Kimura & Rodriguez-Amaya, 2003) as well as individual and total chlorophylls (Table 1) (Agüero, Barg, Yommi, Camelo, & Roura, 2008;Mou, 2005).…”

Carotenoids in Foods

“…β-Carotene and lutein occurred in lower amounts. Cardoso et al, (2009) [11], investigated the α-and β-carotene content of four leafy vegetables (large-leaved and hydroponic watercress, curly and smooth lettuce, kale, and spinach) sold at markets in Brazil, during spring and winter. α-Carotene was detected in all samples sold during spring, but was only present in a few samples of smooth and curly lettuce and kale in winter.…”