Stability issues

The highly unsaturated conjugated chain of carotenoids is very sensitive to air, oxidizing and reducing agents and structural alterations.

For example, the loss of lutein on storage is known and in many instances it starts at the raw material handling stage itself.

Under carefully controlled conditions it was found that exposure to white fluorescent light resulted in the degradation of lutein at 0.8–10.7% per day 1.

Ascorbic acid, alkaline pH, low temperature and darkness were determined to retard degradation of the carotenoids, and hydroxylamine was found to inhibit the light reaction 2,3.

The preparation of stable carotenoid compositions from natural materials therefore presents a challenging task.

References:

1.  Shi, X.M. and Chen, F. (1997) Stability of lutein under various storage conditions Nahrung, 44, 38-41.

2. Sapozhnikov, D.I., Eidelman, Z.M., Bazhanova, N.V., and Popova, O.F. (1959) Blocking of the light reaction by hydroxylamine in the transformation of xanthophylls. Doklady. Akad. Nauk. SSSR., 127, 1128-1131; Chem. Abstr., 54,  11162.

3. Harkay-Vinkler, M. 1974. Storage experiments with raw material of seasoning paprika with particular reference to the red color pigment  components. Acta. Alim. Acad. Sci. Hung. 3:239-249.

 

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