| Abstract: | Carotenoids in petals of Rosa foetida The petals of Rosa foetida, HERRM ., a species of prime importance in the history of breeding true yellow garden roses, have been analysed for carotenoids for the first time. The following components were identified: β-carotene ( 1 , 4,5%), lutein ( 2 , 8%), zeaxanthin ( 3 , 17,4%), auroxanthin ( 4 , 30,8%), luteoxanthin ( 5 , 21,9%), violaxanthin ( 6 , 9,2%) and neochrome ( 7 , 4,1%). Not identified carotenoids (4,1%) contained probably mutatoxanthin, antheraxanthin and apocarotenals. Thus the brillant yellow colour of R. foetida flowers is due mainly to carotenoid epoxides. |
