Dark purple crystal, sensitive to oxygen and light. Insoluble in water, very slightly soluble in ethanol, slightly soluble in vegetable oils, soluble in chloroform. As a commercial product, available only from synthetics, may contain other carotenoids, soluble in vegetable oils in solution or emulsion for the purpose of dilution and improved stability, may contain cis/trans isomers in varying proportions.
Citranxanthin is an antioxidant β-carotene (C184250) found in plants such as tomatoes, kale and papaya, as well as in the yolks of fertile chicken eggs.
ChEBI: An apo carotenoid compound arising from oxidative degradation of the beta,beta-carotene skeleton at the 1'- and 6'-positions.
Purify it by chromatography on a column of 1:1 MgO and HyfloSupercel (diatomaceous filter aid). Crystallise it from pet ether. Store it in the dark under N2 or Ar at 0o. Crocetin diethyl ester (8,8'-diapo-
