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