Estimation of Carotenoid Contents of Selected Mediterranean Legumes by HPLC

Vegetables, fruits and legumes are important foods for humans and their consumption maintain health and may reduce the risk of diseases. Carotenoids and provitamins A are considered important for human health. Four legumes (faba bean, chickpea, lentil and dry beans) were analyzed for their carotenoid composition and content by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Neoxanthin and violaxanthin were found in all samples except dry beans. Lutein was present in all the legumes studied. With the exception of faba bean for Zeaxanthin, both Zeaxanthin and -Carotene were found in all samples. Faba bean, chickpea, lentil and dry beans contained appreciable amounts of -carotene ( 0.089, 0.077, 0.157 and 0.039 μg g , respectively). Lentil 1 had the highest concentration of lutein (7.348 μg g ). In conclusion, the results revealed from this study agree 1 with those reported in the literature. Although, legumes are considered as a poor source of carotenoids, they can provide appreciable amounts of carotenoids that are considered essential to human health.