Experimental Techniques for Structural Elucidation and Analysis of Natural Carotenoids

Abstract

Since the first structural elucidation of β-carotene by Kuhn and Karrer in 1930, about 750 naturally occurring carotenoids had been reported till 2004. Improvements of analytical instruments such as NMR, MS, HPLC, etc., have made it possible to perform the structural elucidation of very minor carotenoids in nature. Annually, new structural carotenoids are being reported in nature. The present paper provides a review of experimental techniques for structural elucidation and analysis of natural carotenoids including extraction, isolation, chemical derivatization methods and HPLC, UV-VIS, MS, NMR, CD spectrometry.