Changes in the contents of carotenoids and their true retentions (% TR) during the production of puree of
Cucurbita moschata ‘Menina Brasileira’ and of Cucurbita maxima ‘Exposição’ pumpkins and the stability of
such compounds during 180 days of storage were monitored by liquid chromatography coupled with a
photodiode array detector. Cooking caused higher losses than commercial sterilisation. High losses of
xanthophylls such as lutein and violaxanthin were noted during processing and storage of pumpkin
puree. Such losses show the low stability of these compounds. The major carotenoids, pro-vitamin A
carotenes, namely, a-carotene and all-trans-b-carotene for C. moschata ‘Menina Brasileira’ and alltrans-
b-carotene for C. maxima ‘Exposição’ obtained high retentions (>75%) after processing. A slight
degree of isomerisation of b-carotene was noted in the puree samples, but with low concentrations of
cis-isomers. Storage for 180 days did not significantly affect (P 6 0.05) the concentrations of these
carotenoids.