Abstract
Epoxycarotenoids were detected by the following microchemical methods. CHCl_3-HCl method : Addition of HCl to the chloroform solution of monoepoxy- or diepoxy-carotenoid produced immediately green or blue coloration, respectively. Simple thin layer chromatography : On an alumina plate, sample was developed with n-hexane・methylethylketone・4-methyl-2-pentane (94 : 5 : 1 for carotenes and their epoxides, 59 : 40 : 1 for xanthophylls and their epoxides). The types of carotenoids were differentiated by applying the "group reagent" (50% AgNO_3 and 0.2% Bi(NO_3)_3) on the developed spots of the samples. Preliminary screening tests for natural epoxycarotenoids were conducted.
