Carotenoids and anthocyanins from floral petals of Delonix regia (Fabaceae) were isolated and characterized. Astaxanthin, a ketocarotenoid and anthocyanins — Peonidin-3-O-glucoside and Petunidin-3-o-acetyl-glucoside were newly identified by HPLC-MS. On 100 g dry weight basis, anthocyanin content was 830 mg in fresh and 580 mg in oven dried petals and 30 mg of β-carotene content in a total of 69 mg of carotenoids. This study has demonstrated that floral petals of D. regia are rich in unusual combination of biologically active carotenoids and anthocyanins, particularly cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (800 mg/100 g DW), holding a great promise for food and pharmaceutical applications. Since astaxanthin is rarely found in higher plants, D. regia appears interesting for gene discovery for understanding of ketocarotenoid biosynthesis in higher
plants