Thirty-four carotenoids, including 13 geometrical isomers and eight metabolites, in breast milk and serum of three lactating mothers have been separated, identified, quantified, and compared by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-photodiode array (PDA) detection-mass spectrometry (MS). Among the metabolites were two oxidation products of lycopene and four of lutein/ zeaxanthin. In addition, two metabolites of lutein, formed as a result of dehydration of this dihydroxycarotenoid under acidic conditions similar to those of the stomach, have also been identified in plasma and breast milk. The oxidative metabolites of lycopene with a novel five-membered-ring end group have been identified as epimeric 2,6-cyclolycopene-1,5-diols by comparison of their HPLC-UV/visible-MS profiles with those of fully characterized (1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy) synthetic compounds. The HPLC procedures employed also detected vitamin A, two forms of vitamin E (gamma- and alpha-tocopherol), and two non-carotenoid food components, i.e., piperine and caffeine, in serum and breast milk.

From the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides several carotenoids were isolated and identified. Crocetin (1) was characterized by UV/vis, cochromatography, and LC-MS. The following glycosyl esters of crocetin (1) were identified:  crocin (crocetin di(β-gentiobiosyl) ester) (6) by UV/vis, 1H- and 13C-NMR, and FAB-MS and crocetin mono(β-gentiobiosyl) ester (4) by UV/vis, 1H-NMR, and LC-MS. There are strong indications for the presence of 13Z-crocin (9) (UV/vis, 1H-NMR, and LC-MS). From saffron (Crocus sativus L.), another glycosyl ester of crocetin (1) was isolated. It was identified as crocetin (β-gentiobiosyl) (β-neapolitanosyl) ester (7) by UV/vis, 1H-NMR, and MS. Keywords: Carotenoids; glycosyl esters; isolation; structure elucidation; Gardenia jasminoides; saffron; Crocus sativus

Sixteen carotenoids were isolated from the flesh of Brazilian red guavas (Psidium guajava L.). Their structures were established by means of UV-visible, 400 and 500 MHz (1)H NMR, 120 and 125 MHz (13)C NMR, mass, and circular dichroism spectra. The carotenoids were identified as phytofluene, (all-E)-, (9Z)-, (13Z)-, and (15Z)-beta-carotene, (all-E)-gamma-carotene, (all-E)-, (9Z)-, (13Z)-, and (15Z)-lycopene, (all-E,3R)-beta-cryptoxanthin, (all-E, 3R)-rubixanthin, (all-E,3S,5R,8S)-cryptoflavin, (all-E,3R,3'R, 6'R)-lutein, (all-E,3S,5R,6R,3'S,5'R,8'R)-, and (all-E,3S,5R,6R,3'S, 5'R,8'S)-neochrome. Thirteen of the carotenoids identified are reported as guava carotenoids for the first time.

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