DETERMINATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF TOTAL CAROTENOIDS IN PERSIMMON BY USING COLORIMETRIC METHOD

Mullapudi Uma Maheswari, Juvvala Priyanka, Jhansi Rani Kuna, Meegada Mounika, Tapa Jeseswari, Vardhineedi Shirisha*

The present study was carried out to determine and quantify the total carotenoid content in persimmon fruit (Diospyros kaki) using a colorimetric method. Fresh ripe fruits were collected, shade-dried, powdered, and extracted using acetone and ethanol by maceration. Qualitative tests and Thin Layer Chromatography confirmed the presence of carotenoids such as β-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, with an Rf value of 0.96. Quantitative estimation was performed using β-carotene as a standard. The maximum absorbance (λmax) was observed at 470 nm. A calibration curve was prepared at different concentrations, and the absorbance of the fruit extract at 470 nm was found to be 1.14. The total carotenoid content in 10 g of persimmon fruit dry powder was calculated to be 0.00188 g, corresponding to 0.018%. The study demonstrates that persimmon fruit contains measurable amounts of carotenoids, and the colorimetric method employed is simple, economical, and suitable for routine analysis and quality control applications.