DETERMINATION OF TOTAL CAROTENOID CONTENT IN SOME CALENDULA OFFICINALIS AND TAGETES PATULA VARIETIES

Carotenoids are C-40 terpenoid compounds found in coloured vegetables and fruits, with potential health beneficial properties. Calendula officinalis and Tagetes patula are important sources of carotenoids with application in food and healthcare industry. In this study we analysed the total carotenoid content in dried and fresh vegetal products from nine varieties of Calendula officinalis and seven varieties of Tagetes patula, by spectrophotometric methods. We observed high variations in carotenoid concentrations in analysed Romanian varieties: Calendulae flos contains 0.99-1.32 mg carotenoids/g dried flowers and Tagetes flos contains 0.52-3.72 mg /g. The variations can be due to differences in culture conditions and aspect of vegetal products. The high concentrations of carotenoids found in some varieties allow the selection of a good genetic material which is suitable for cultivation as natural sources of carotenoids.