Analytical Determination of Carotenoids in Inland Ocimum Basilicum L.

The analysis of carotenoids presents in inland Ocimum basilicum L. irradiated in a microwave field was performed in this study. The extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. were obtained with Ultraturrax in water: acetone (10 + 90, v/v) mixture, stirring 2 h. The extracts were analysed using a Jasco V-530 UV-VIS spectrophotometer and a Shimadzu HPLC equipped with PDA detector, for carotenoids identifying. The HPLC analyses were performed on YMC C30 column, 5 μm, 250 x 4.6 mm, using a linear gradient of two different solvents mixtures A – methanol : methyl-tert-butyl-ether : water (81+15+4, v/v) and B with the sames component but in the follow range 6+90+4, v/v were the solvent mixtures used as mobile phase. The linear gradient was 1%B to 100%B in 90 min. The carotenoids identification was performed using the standard solutions.