Ultra high pressure comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography combined with hybrid mass spectrometry for the elucidation of carotenoids in red chili peppers

Some of the important ingredients in paprika extracts are carotenoids formed in the fruit during ripening. These compounds are not only used in the food industry but also in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. A total of 33 different compounds have been separated and identified in red chilli peppers.
A comprehensive normal-phase × reversed-phase (NP-LCxRP-LC) liquid chromatographic system was developed, and applied for analysis of the intact carotenoid composition of chili red peppers, with PDA (photodiode array) and MS (mass spectrometry). The combination of ion trap technology coupled with accurate mass measurements was used for the identification and classification of the different compounds.