Determination of Chlorophyll and Carotenoid Pigments in Kiwifruit

Abstract

Pigments of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch. cv. Bruno) were separated by column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The results obtained were as follows: (1) The pigments extracted from kiwifruit flesh were separated to seven components. They were identified as chlorophyll a, b, pheophytin, β-carotene and xanthophylls with respect to their adsorption bands, shapes of absorption curves and their maxima, of which major pigments were chlorophyll a and b. (2) Xanthophylls were consisted of lutein neoxanthin, violaxanthin and lutein-like pigments. (3) Anthocyanins and flavones were not detected.