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Carotenoids and anthocyanins from floral petals of Delonix regia (Fabaceae) were isolated and characterized. Astaxanthin, a ketocarotenoid and anthocyanins — Peonidin-3- O -glucoside and Petunidin-3- o -acetyl-glucoside were newly identified by HPLC-MS. On 100 g dry weight basis, anthocyanin content was 830 mg in fresh and 580 mg in oven dried petals and 30 mg of β-carotene content in a total of 69 mg of carotenoids. This study has demonstrated that floral petals of D . regia are rich in unusual combination of biologically active carotenoids and anthocyanins, particularly cyanidin-3- O -rutinoside (800 mg/100 g DW), holding a great promise for food and pharmaceutical applications. Since astaxanthin is rarely found in higher plants, D. regia appears interesting for gene discovery for understanding of ketocarotenoid biosynthesis in higher plants.

Although populations of several tropical countries are under severe vitamin-A deficiency, traditional sources of pro-vitamin-A carotenoids have not been exploited due to the lack of relevant research data. In this study, ten commercial varieties of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), grown at identical conditions, were evaluated for carotenoids, their bio-efficacy and stability during drying, with the main emphasis on β-carotene (vitamin-A precursor) analysis by HPLC-MS. In all varieties, β-carotene content was higher in foliage at mature stage, than in seedlings and seeds. Variety GS4 Multicut produced highest biomass (6.18 ± 0.73 g/plant), total carotenoids (217.50 ± 5.6 mg/100 g DW) and β-carotene (73.64 ± 0.3 mg/100 g DW) at pre-flowering stage. Carotenoids extract showed a high antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 14.29 ± 1.68 μg/ml, scavenging hydroxyl radicals and rendering higher protection to DNA than by standard gallic acid (IC50 = 357.21 ± 4.29). Microwave drying of foliage was rapid with better retention of pigments, high intactness of trans-β-carotene and higher extractability of pigments when compared with oven drying.