Lutein Extraction and analysis from alfalfa germplasm

The leading cause of irreversible vision loss in Americans over 60 is age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). It is a degenerative disease resulting in the loss of central vision. Studies have shown that consumption of lutein can lead to a 40% reduction in AMD. Lutein is a lipid‐soluble member of the xanthophylls family of carotenoids. Lutein is found in the lens and the macula of the eye, but is not synthesized in the human body and must be obtained through one's diet. Currently, there are few sources available for commercial scale extraction, one being marigold petals. The current extraction method for obtaining lutein from marigolds is expensive and does not result in highly pure lutein. To overcome the disadvantages of current methods, this study was conducted to determine if alfalfa could be used as a potential source of lutein. An analytical scale method was established for lutein extraction and detection from alfalfa tissue. The field grown alfalfa plants were harvested and flash frozen in liquid nitrogen. The samples were ground to a powder, extracted, saponified, and analyzed for lutein content using HPLC. The lutein content of the samples ranged from 158 ppm to 285 ppm. Two alfalfa commercial varieties were found to contain statistically significantly higher lutein content than 25 other tested varieties. The method developed can be used as a selection tool in choosing alfalfa plants containing high levels of lutein.