Eine Suche nach 3′‐Epilutein ( = (3R,3′S,6′R)‐β,ε‐Carotin‐3,3′‐diol) und 3′, O‐Didehydrolutein (=(3R, 6′R)‐3‐Hydroxy‐β,ε‐carotin‐3′‐on) in Eigelb, in Blüten von Caltha palustris und in Herbstblättern

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Abstract
Search for the Presence in Egg Yolk, in Flowers of Caltha palustris and in Autumn Leaves of 3′‐Epilutein ( =(3R,3′S,6′R)‐β,ε‐Carotene‐3,3′‐diol) and 3′,O‐Didehydrolutein ( =(3R,6′R)‐3‐Hydroxy‐β,ε‐carotene‐3′‐one)3′.O‐Didehydrolutein ( =(3R, 6′R)‐3‐hydroxy‐β,ε‐carotene‐3′‐one; 2) has been detected in egg yolk and in flowers of Caltha palustris. This is the first record for its occurrence in a plant. The compound shows a remarkable lability towards base; therefore, it may have been overlooked til now, because it is destroyed under the usual conditions of saponification of the carotenoid‐esters. One of the many products formed from 2 with 1% KOH in methanol has been purified and identified as the diketone 3 ( =(3R)‐3‐hydroxy‐4′, 12′‐retro‐β,β‐carotene‐3′,12′‐dione). The identification of this transformation product from lutein might throw a new light on the metabolism of this important carotenoid in green plants.3′‐Epilutein ( =(3R,3′S,6′R)‐β,ε‐carotene‐3,3′‐diol; 1) was not detected in egg yolk, but is present besides lutein in flowers of C. palustris, thus confirming an earlier report of the occurrence of an isomeric (possibly epimeric) lutein (‘calthaxanthin’) in that plant [21].We were not able to detect even traces of 1 or 2 in the carotenoid fraction from autumn leaves of Prunus avium (cherry), Parrotia persica, Acer montanum (maple) and yellow needles of Larix europaea (larch).α‐Cryptoxanthin (4), a very rare carotenoid, was isolated in considerable quantity for the first time from flowers of C. palustris.