Identification and Quantitative Estimation of Lutein in Iraqi Spinacia oleraceaFamily Chenopodiaceae by Using Chromatographic Methods

Lutein is an antioxidant carotenoid present in the highest quantities in dark, leafy green vegetables such as spinach. In this study, and for the first time we try to separate and calculate the quantity of lutein in Iraqi spinach to know the dietary requirements from this active drug to avoid age macula degeneration caused by lutein depletion. Extraction and fractionation of lutein from Iraqi spinach leaves were carried out by soxhlet apparatus using petroleum ether: acetone (1:1) as a solvent system, then lutein was isolated by preparative thin layer chromatography and identified by thin layer chromatography using two different solvents system: (petroleum ether: diethyl ether:acetic acid) and (petroleum ether: acetonitrile: methanol) compared with standard , melting point, mixed melting point and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).50gm of Iraqi spinach gives about 32mg of lutein.