Quantitative Profiling of Carotenoids, Tocopherols, Phytosterols, and Fatty Acids in the Flower Petals of Ten Marigold (Tagetes spp. L.) Cultivars

Marigold (Tagetes spp.) flower petals are the most vital sources of carotenoids, especially lutein esters, for production natural to use food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries. Several marigold cultivars cultivated globally; however, their ester composition contents have not been widely investigated. Considering this, this study aimed identify quantify prominent carotenoid esters from ten by liquid chromatography (LC)–diode-array detection (DAD)–mass spectrometry (MS). In addition, tocopherols, phytosterols, fatty acids were analyzed gas (GC)–flame ionization (FID) GC–MS. Furthermore, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging abilities lipophilic extracts determined. The total varied significantly (p < 0. 05, Tukey HSD) among cultivars, ranging 25.62 (cv. Alaska)–2723.11 µg/g fresh weight Superboy Orange). Among five major lutein-diesters, (all-E)-lutein-3-O-myristate-3′-O-palmitate dipalmitate predominant. studied α-tocopherol was recorded, 167.91 Yellow) 338.50 FW Taishan β-sitosterol prevalent phytosterol, between 127.08 191.99 Yellow). Palmitic (C16:0; 33.36–47.43%) dominant acids. study, highest recorded cv. Orange; due substantially higher petal yield, Durango Red can produce yield 94.45 kg/ha. These observations suggest that Orange ideal candidates fortification in foods also commercial extraction.