Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Carotenoid−Glycosyl Esters in Gardenia Fruits (<i>Gardenia jasminoides </i>Ellis) and Saffron (<i>Crocus </i><i>sativus </i>Linne)

Abstract

From the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides several carotenoids were isolated and identified. Crocetin (1) was characterized by UV/vis, cochromatography, and LC-MS. The following glycosyl esters of crocetin (1) were identified: crocin (crocetin di(β-gentiobiosyl) ester) (6) by UV/vis, 1H- and 13C-NMR, and FAB-MS and crocetin mono(β-gentiobiosyl) ester (4) by UV/vis, 1H-NMR, and LC-MS. There are strong indications for the presence of 13Z-crocin (9) (UV/vis, 1H-NMR, and LC-MS). From saffron (Crocus sativus L.), another glycosyl ester of crocetin (1) was isolated. It was identified as crocetin (β-gentiobiosyl) (β-neapolitanosyl) ester (7) by UV/vis, 1H-NMR, and MS. Keywords: Carotenoids; glycosyl esters; isolation; structure elucidation; Gardenia jasminoides; saffron; Crocus sativus