Lutein and lutein esters in marigold flowers by high performance chromatography

Lutein and lutein esters in marigold flowers was quantitatively determined by high performance chromatography (HPLC) with ODS-C18 column. A mixture of CH3CN - CH3OH -CH3COOCH2CH3 with volume ratio of 55 : 1 : 44 was used as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and detection was carried out at 460 nm. The column temperature was about 20°C. The contents of lutein and lutein esters were determined by analytical curve of lutein since lutein and lutein esters have the same spectral characteristics. Determination results of hexane extracts and saponified samples of lutein show that the saponification transforms the esters into free lutein. The increase of the content of dipalmitate and palmitate stearate reveals that the reaction includes transesterifications.