Analysis of xanthophylls in corn by HPLC

An HPLC method was developed using the C-30 carotenoid column to separate and identify the major xanthophylls in corn (lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin). A photodiode array detector and a mobile phase consisting of methyl tert-butyl ether/methanol/water was used. All three xanthophylls eluted in less than 25 min. Yellow dent corn had a total xanthophyll content of 21.97 mug/g with lutein content of 15.7 mug/g, zeaxanthin content of 5.7 mug/g, and beta-cryptoxanthin of 0.57 mug/g. Commercial corn gluten meal had a 7 times higher concentration of xanthophylls (145 mug/g), and deoiled corn contained 18 mug/g, indicating that the xanthophylls are probably bound to the zein fraction of corn proteins.