HPLC quantification of carotenoids in astringent and non-astringent persimmon peel and flesh

High-performance liquid chromatography was used to assess carotenoid compositions in the peel and flesh of 25 cultivars from four persimmon types: pollination-constant astringent, pollination-constant non-astringent (PCNA), pollination-variant astringent (PVA), and pollination-variant non-astringent (PVNA). The carotenoid content was assessed across different cultivars, types, and tissue parts (peel and flesh). The comprehensive analysis demonstrated that peel showed consistently higher carotenoid concentrations than flesh, with β-carotene emerging as the most abundant compound, followed by β-cryptoxanthin and α-carotene. Notably, persimmons of the Jinhong and Maegamajiro (PCNA type) had the highest total carotenoid content, while the PVA type exhibited lower concentrations. Variations were more closely associated with cultivar differences than persimmon types. These findings enhance the current understanding of persimmon carotenoid profiles, nutritional profiles, and the influence of key factors on carotenoid content.