Anthocyanin and Carotenoid Contents in Different Cultivars of Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum Ramat.) Flower

Abstract

The flowers of twenty-three cultivars of Dendranthema grandiflorum Ramat. were investigated to determine anthocyanin and carotenoid levels and to confirm the effects of the pigments on the flower colors using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The cultivars contained the anthocyanins cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3g) and cyanidin 3-(3"-malonoyl) glucoside (C3mg) and the following carotenoids: lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, 13-cis-β-carotene, α-carotene, trans-β-carotene, and 9-cis-β-carotene. The cultivar "Magic" showed the greatest accumulation of total and individual anthocyanins, including C3g and C3gm. On the other hand, the highest level of lutein and zeaxanthin was noted in the cultivar "Il Weol". The cultivar "Anastasia" contained the highest amount of carotenoids such as trans-β-carotene, 9-cis-β-carotene, and 13-cis-β-carotene. The highest accumulation of β-cryptoxanthin and α-carotene was noted in the cultivar "Anastasia" and "Il Weol". Our results suggested that 'Magic", "Angel" and "Relance' had high amounts of anthocyanins and showed a wide range of red and purple colors in their petals, whereas "Il Weol', "Popcorn Ball' and "Anastasia" produced higher carotenoid contents and displayed yellow or green petal colors. Interestingly, "Green Pang Pang", which contained a high level of anthocyanins and a medium level of carotenoids, showed the deep green colored petals. "Kastelli", had high level of carotenoids as well as a medium level of anthocyanins and showed orange and red colored petals. It was concluded that each pigment is responsible for the petal's colors and the compositions of the pigments affect their flower colors and that the cultivars could be a good source for pharmaceutical, floriculture, and pigment industries.

The Unexplored Potential of Edible Flowers Lipids

“…For example, the variety that is dark orange (Double Esterel Orange) presented the highest total content of carotenoids (276 mg/100 g fw). Similar results were detected by Park et al [77], who reported that between different cultivars and colors of chrysanthemums, the yellow-orange flowers were those that showed the highest content of carotenoids, namely Il Weol (345.56 µg/g dw) and popcorn ball (189.57 µg/g dw). So, carotenoids are important compounds in edible flowers, because the color of the flower is an essential attribute that influences the commercial acceptance of consumers [78].…”

Nutritional and Nutraceutical Composition of Pansies (Viola × wittrockiana) During Flowering

“…According to Park et al. (), most yellow accents in flowers result from the presence of carotenoids (especially, xanthophylls), whereas anthocyanins are responsible for the most red‐, blue‐, and purple‐colored petals. However, these authors found a “Kastelli” cultivar of chrysanthemum with red colored‐petals and high concentrations of carotenoids, probably because this cultivar might accumulate reddish carotenoids that are absent in yellow petals.…”

Phytochemical characterization of Borago officinalis L. and Centaurea cyanus L. during flower development

“…Regarding individual carotenoids, lutein was the main carotenoid in both flowers (0.03-43.7 mg β-carotene equivalent/100 g dw), as in other edible flowers, namely: chrysanthemum (1.18-30.7 mg lutein/ 100 g dw) (Park et al, 2015), snapdragon (1.41 mg lutein/100 g dw) (González- Barrio et al, 2018), garden nasturtium (35.0-45.0 mg lutein/100 g fw) (Niizu & Rodriguez-Amaya, 2005), marigold (106.2 mg lutein/100 g fw) (Tinoi, Rakariyatham, & Deming, 2006), and pansies (5.11 mg lutein/100 g dw) (González- Barrio et al, 2018). Borage presented consistently higher lutein contents than centaurea (0.73-43.73 vs 0.03-1.16 mg β-carotene equivalent/100 g dw, respectively), except in petals, in which similar results were obtained (0.73 and 0.69 mg βcarotene equivalent/100 g dw, respectively).…”