was 2 299 g 4 54 xanthophyll content was 89 05 by weight as determined by uv vis spectrophotometry out of which the contents of trans lutein zeaxanthin and other carotenoids were 91 97 6 83 and 1 20 respectively as determined by hplc analysis commercial grade marigold oleoresin 51 60 g containing 11 82 xanthophyll content by spectrophotometric method was mixed with potassium isopropyl alcoholate prepared by dissolving 12 90 g potassium hydroxide in 155 ml isopropanol the saponification mixture was heated and maintained at 70 degree c for a period of 3 hours the degree of hydrolysis was monitored by hplc during the saponification stage isopropanol was distilled off under reduced pressure and the solids obtained were stirred with 258 ml of water with 5 sodium sulphate at room temperature the mixture was taken into a separatory funnel and extracted with equal volume of ethyl acetate 5 times ethyl acetate layer was collected and washed with distilled water for removing the excess alkali soapy materials and other water soluble impurities the ethyl acetate layer was distilled off under reduced pressure to get saponified crude extract 25 60 g this crude extract 25 60 g was subjected to purification by stirring with.