Determination of β-carotene in jute leaves by spectrophotometry and thin layer chromatography (original) (raw)

β-carotene is a carotenoid pigment that converts to vitamin A in human body and plays crucial role in visual functions, reproductive performance and immune system. Jute leaves contain β-carotene but amounts in different varieties of jute leaves are not known. The study was undertaken to estimate the β-carotene content in fresh jute leaves of the cultivated jute species Corchorus olitorius L. and Corchorus capsularis L. by spectrophotometry and thin layer chromatography. βcarotene content varies in leaves of different varieties of two species. Leaves of some C. olitorius variety showed higher amount of β-carotene than the leaves of C. capsularis variety. Some varieties of C. olitorius showed similarity with some varieties of C. capsularis. Variety Robi-1 of C .olitorius showed the highest content of β-carotene 39.93mg/100g. O-72, O-4, O-3820, O-9897 and OM-1 of olitorius variety showed higher β-carotene than all the varieties of C. capsularis. JRO-524 and MG-1 of C. olitorius variety is comparable to CVL-1, D-154, BJC-2197 and deshi pat shak-1 variety of C. capsularis regarding β-carotene content. Lowest β-carotene was estimated 12.55mg/100g in O-795 of olitorius variety and 12.32mg/100g in BJC-83 and 11.34mg/100g in BJC-2142 of capsularis variety. Thin layer chromatography system silica gel on TLC Al foils as stationary phase and hexane as mobile phase performs good separation and identification of βcarotene in jute leaves.