**Quali-Quantitative Profile of Native Carotenoids in Kumquat from Brazil by HPLC-DAD-APCI**/**MS**

**Helena Maria Pinheiro-Sant'Ana 1, Pamella Cristine Anunciação 1, Clarice Silva e Souza 1, Galdino Xavier de Paula Filho 2, Andrea Salvo 3,\*, Giacomo Dugo 3 and Daniele Giu**ff**rida 3**


Received: 3 April 2019; Accepted: 14 May 2019; Published: 16 May 2019

**Abstract:** In this study the native carotenoids composition in kumquat (Fortunella margarita) (peel + pulp) from Brazil was determined for the first time by a HPLC-DAD-APCI/MS (high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/mass spectrometry), methodology. Eleven carotenoids were successfully identified and quantified in kumquat: four carotenoids in the free form and seven carotenoids in the esterified form. β-citraurin-laurate was the carotenoid found in the highest content (607.33 μg/100 g fresh matter), followed by β-cryptoxanthin-laurate (552.59 μg/100 g). The different esterified forms of β-citraurin and β-cryptoxanthin represented 84.34% of the carotenoids found, which demonstrates the importance of esterification in natural fruits. β-carotene and free xanthophylls (β-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin) represented 5.50% and 14.96%, respectively, of total carotenoids in kumquat. The total carotenoid content of kumquat from Brazil was very high (2185.16 μg/100 g), suggesting that this fruit could contribute significantly to the intake of important bioactive compounds by the population.

**Keywords:** *Fortunella margarita*; citrus; carotenes; xanthophylls; β-citraurin-laurate; β-cryptoxanthinlaurate
