FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2010, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (4): 77-80.doi: 10.7506/spkx1002-6300-201004017

• Processing Technology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Relationship between A238nm/A440nm Value of Gardenia Yellow and Contents of Crocin and Genipin

CHEN Yang1,ZHANG Hao2,CAI Le2,LI Xi-Lan1,JIANG Li-Juan2,XU Hui-Chuan2,WANG Wen-Jun1   

  1. 1. Department of Chemistry, Zunyi Medical College Zhuhai Campus, Zhuhai 519041, China;
    2. Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
  • Received:2009-04-16 Online:2010-02-15 Published:2010-12-29
  • Contact: CHEN Yang E-mail:chenyang197732@hotmail.com

Abstract:

TLC, HPLC and UV techniques were used to investigate the relationship between OD value (defined as the ratio of maximum absorbance value at 238 nm wavelength of genipin to maximum absorbance value at 410 nm wavelength of crocins) of gardenia yellow and genipin and crocins contents in it. Compounds with high purity were isolated from gardenia yellow by gel column chromatography and then subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis by TLC, HPLC and UV. In addition, E1cm238, E1cm440 and OD values were calculated. UV spectral data clearly indicated strong absorption of crocins at 238 nm wavelength. As a result, OD value might cause an over-estimatation of genipin content in gardenia yellow when used for quantitation. Therefore, it is inaccurate to represent genipin content in gardenia yellow by OD value. Moreover, this study implies that HPLC is a scientific and proper tool for analyzing genipin in natural pigments.

Key words: gardenia yellow, crocins, genipin, UV, TLC, HPLC

CLC Number: