Analysis of Carotenoids in Watermelon by Column Chromatography Separation

[Objective] The research aimed to analyze and detect the carotenoids from watermelon by column chromatography.[Method] The main carotenoids were separated and analyzed by open column chromatography from five watermelon cultivars with different flesh color [Result] Five watermelon cultivars with red-,yellow-,coral-,pink-and white-flesh colors all contained phytofluene,β-,and ζ-carotene.Apart from white-flesh watermelons,the other color flesh cultivars contained lycopene,with its content in red-flesh watermelon being the most.The lycopene content in early flowering,Red 1 and 96B41 was 35.35,28.44 and 21.19 mg/kg resp.β-carotene content in yellow-flesh watermelon 307Chaofeng was about 0.48 mg/kg,and ζ-carotene content in white-flesh watermelon Three white was about 0.4 mg/kg.γ-carotene could be separated and detected in the red-and coral-flesh cultivars.Lutein could be separated and detected in the red-and yellow-flesh cultivars.[Conclusion] Open column chromatography had the characteristic of low cost,easy operation and reliable results so it can be used to analyze the lycopene content in each component in constant samples.