Isolation and Structural Elucidation of (13Z,13‘Z,3R,3‘R,6‘R)-Lutein from Marigold Flowers, Kale, and Human Plasma

Abstract
(13Z,13‘Z,3R,3‘R,6‘R)-Lutein has been isolated and purified from extracts of marigold flowers, fresh raw kale (Brassica oleracea var. Acephala), and human plasma and fully characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, UV/vis, and MS. While the concentration of (13Z,13‘Z)-lutein in kale and human plasma compared to (all-E,3R,3‘R,6‘R)-lutein was found to be quite low, this compound was readily isolated by fractional crystallization of lutein from marigold extracts. Thus, the mother liquors from two consecutive crystallizations of lutein from a saponified extract of marigold flowers were enriched in (13Z,13‘Z)-lutein (8.7% of total carotenoids) and employed for the isolation of this compound by HPLC. The identity of the di-Z-lutein in kale and human plasma has been established by comparison of the HPLC−UV/vis−MS profiles of the purified compounds with those of a fully characterized sample, isolated from marigolds. 3-Hydroxy-β,ε-caroten-3‘-one and 3‘-epilutein have also been identified in extracts from marigolds. Keywords: Brassica oleracea (Acephala); carotenoid metabolites in plants; carotenoid oxidation products; HPLC−mass spectrometry; Z/E (cis/trans)-isomers; marigold flowers; new serum/plasma carotenoids; NMR; Tagetes erecta (orangeade); UV−visible

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