Use of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to analyze lycopene isomers in tomato, an undergraduate experiment

CHED 373

Amanda L. Miller, alm41@students.uwf.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514, Pamela P. Vaughan, pvaughan@uwf.edu, Chemistry, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514, and Tara M. Sirvent, tsirvent@vanguard.edu, School of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Vanguard University, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
Lycopene isomers were found in samples of fresh tomato fruits. Following homogenation the fruit tissue was extracted using organic solvents and analysis of dried extracts was performed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a photodiode array detector (PDA). Initial analysis indicated only one isomer of lycopene; however, after the extract was incubated at room temperature (25° C) for seven days and analyzed again via HPLC, several other isomers of lycopene were observed. This procedure is inexpensive and scaled for classroom laboratory applications. It demonstrates the importance of sample preparation and storage conditions on compound stability, as well as exposes students to HPLC methods and techniques.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Chemical Education
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008