Carotenoids in Delonix regia (Gul Mohr) flower

Abstract

The qualitative and quantitative distribution of carotenoids in different parts of D. regia flower was studied by chromatographic, spectrophoto-metric and other methods. The partition ratios, hitherto not reported, of a number of carotenoids between different solvents are recorded. The petals of D. regia contained 29 carotenoids. The major pigments identified are: phytoene, phytofluene, [beta]-carotene, gamma-carotene, lycopene isomers, rubixanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and several epoxy carotenoids. The sepals contained 18 carotenoids. Phytoene, phytofluene, [beta]-carotene, gamma-carotene, lycopene isomers, lutein, zeaxanthin and carotenoid epoxides were the major carotenoids. Filaments contained 20 carotenoids, including phytoene, [beta]-carotene, gamma-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, chrysanthemaxanthin, flavoxanthin and other epoxy carotenoids. The highest concentration of total carotenoids were found in anthers. Of the total carotenoids, 90% is zeaxanthin. The only other carotenoids present were [beta]-carotene derivatives with traces of 2 uncharacterized carotenoids. The probable physiological significance of such a complex mixture of carotenoids in different parts of the flower is discussed.