The xanthophylls in crude palm oil (CPO) were identified as lutein, α-carotene 5,6-epoxide, α-carotene 5,8-epoxide, and β-carotene 5,6-epoxide and/or β-carotene 5’,6’-epoxide based on their electronic absorption maxima from HPLC-PDA. Lutein, a dihydroxy carotenoid, was isolated from CPO extract and its structure confirmed by co-elution with an authentic standard using HPLC-photodiode array (PDA) and mass spectra. At 7 DAA (days after anthesis), lutein was predominant with only trace amounts of α- and β-carotenes. At 21, 84 and 126 DAA, the levels of α- and β-carotenes increased although lutein still predominated. However, when the palm fruit ripens at 140 DAA, the level of lutein decreased dramatically to a minor carotene while α- and β-carotenes predominated with other minor carotenes, i.e. phytoene, lycopene, β-zeacarotene, γ-carotene, ζ-carotene, formed.

Keywords: 6 epoxide and α-carotene 5, 6 epoxide; crude palm oil, 8 epoxide; β-carotene 5, mass spectra of lutein, unripe palm fruits, α-carotene 5