UHPLC as a suitable methodology for the analysis of carotenoids in food matrix

The purpose of this paper was to optimize an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method for the determination and quantification of carotenoid pigments in food products and compare it with a HPLC method in terms of resolution, selectivity, sensitivity, time and reagent saving. Less analysis times, solvent consumption and better peak resolution were achieved when the UHPLC methodology was used. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography analysis was performed on Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 x 50 mm; 1.8 mu m) using a gradient solvent system and diode array detector. A total of seven carotenoids were separated and quantified in < 8.5 min. For all components, the resolution was higher than 1.5 and LOD was below 1.0 mu g mL(-1). To determine the intraday and reproducibility, assays were conducted in 10 continuous days for method validation achieving recuperation rates ranging between 85 and 100 % and no significant differences among the results obtained in same and different days. The proposed methodology was applied for the determination of the carotenoid contents in honeybee pollen samples, pumpkin and nectarine flesh with satisfactory recovery.