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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #142296
Title: IDENTIFICATION OF CAROTENOIDS IN ORANGE AND YELLOW FLESHED WATERMELON

Author
item Collins, Julie
item Perkins Veazie, Penelope
item Fish, Wayne

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2002
Publication Date: 3/1/2003
Citation: Collins, J.K., Perkins Veazie, P.M., Fish, W.W. 2003. Identification of carotenoids in orange and yellow fleshed watermelon [abstract]. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference. 17(5):456.5.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Orange and yellow fleshed watermelon are popular in some regions of the U.S. Very little is known about their carotenoid composition. Many of the carotenoids have positive health properties, and these melons may have unusual carotenoids not normally found in foods. Four cultivars of orange and three cultivars of yellow seeded and seedless watermelon were extracted and profiled using reverse phase HPLC with diode array detector. Orange fleshed watermelon contained primarily prolycopene, a cis lycopene isomer. Yellow fleshed watermelon contained primarily zeta carotene. In vitro tests have demonstrated antioxidant properties in zeta carotene while little is known about the antioxidant properties of prolycopene. These watermelon types may provide a food source of carotenoids that have not been adequately researched.