Estandarización de una microtécnica de cuantificación de carotenoides en matrices vegetales y microbianas

Abstract

Living beings present a wide range of chemical compounds, necessary for survival and fulfillment of vital and adaptive functions in the environment. Among these metabolites are carotenoids, secondary metabolites necessary for the development of vital processes such as photosynthesis and others such as photoprotection and the formation of characteristic pigments, important for adaptation to different environments. The presence of these compounds in food makes it possible for them to be ingested through the diet, where they are digested and metabolized to fulfill diverse functions in the human organism, such as: antioxidants and regulators of cell signaling, or precursors of vitamins such as vitamin A. The determination of carotenoids has been described by different authors, where the use of organic solvents is the basis for their extraction. For the present study, the evaluation of two methodologies was proposed, a classical or macro-technique and a rapid or micro-technique. Carotenoids were extracted by the solvent maceration method using dichloromethane and 95% ethanol from three plant matrices: carne humana plant (Jungia rugosa), red bell pepper (Capsicum annum) and the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The macro technique was developed from the di-chloromethane extract of the different matrices, while the micro technique was developed from di-chloromethane and 95% ethanol extracts. The results of the microtechnique were compared using a T-test, while a comparative ANOVA test was developed between the macro and micro techniques used for the analysis.