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Chemopreventive Agents
Published in David E. Thurston, Ilona Pysz, Chemistry and Pharmacology of Anticancer Drugs, 2021
Carotenoids serve two key roles in photosynthetic organisms; they absorb light energy for use in photosynthesis and protect chlorophyll from photodamage from too much light exposure. In animals and humans they have a number of physiological functions but cannot be biosynthesized and must be ingested in the diet. Carotenoids that contain unsubstituted β-ionone rings (e.g., β-carotene, α-carotene, γ-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin) have vitamin A activity, as in animals and humans they are converted to retinol which is essential for sight. They also have antioxidant activity. In the eye, other carotenoids such as zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, and lutein (Figure 12.40) are thought to absorb the potentially damaging blue and near-ultraviolet light thus protecting the macula of the retina, the area of the retina responsible for sharpest vision.
Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods
Published in Robert E.C. Wildman, Richard S. Bruno, Handbook of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, 2019
Different foods have different kinds and relative amounts of carotenoids. Also, the carotenoid content can vary seasonally and during the ripening process. For example, peaches contain violaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, β-carotene, persicaxanthin, neoxanthin, and as many as 25 other carotenoids; apricots contain mostly α-carotene, β-carotene, and lycopene; and carrots contain about 50–55 parts per million of carotene in total, mostly α-carotene, β-carotene, and γ-carotene, as well as lycopene. Many vegetable oils also contain carotenoids, with palm oil containing the most. For example, crude palm oil contains up to 0.2% carotenoids. Meanwhile, there are a few synthetic carotenoids, including β-apo-8′-carotenal (apocarotenal), and canthaxanthin. Beta-Apo-8′-carotenal (apocarotenal) imparts a light reddish-orange color, and canthaxanthin imparts an orange-red to red color.
Chemical and Functional Properties of Amazonian Fruits
Published in Luzia Valentina Modolo, Mary Ann Foglio, Brazilian Medicinal Plants, 2019
Elaine Pessoa, Josilene Lima Serra, Hervé Rogez, Sylvain Darnet
Peach palm mesocarp is an essential source of carotenoids, varying from 198 to 357.4 µg. g−1 total carotenoid content (de Rosso and Mercadante, 2007; Santos et al., 2015). Although the carotenoid content is different among varieties (1.1 to 7.4 mg/100 g), β-carotene (31.2% to 42.2%) and γ-carotene (20.3% to 26.6%) are predominant (de Rosso and Mercadante 2007; Jatunov et al., 2010; Rojas-Garbanzo et al., 2011).
Dietary lycopene is negatively associated with abdominal aortic calcification in US adults: a cross-sectional study
Published in Annals of Medicine, 2023
Lemei Hu, Quanjun Liu, Yunyao Ou, Dongdong Li, Yongdong Wu, Hengyi Li, Zhigang Zhu, Ming Liang
However, the Cox regression analysis recognized that the other diet-derived antioxidants intake was not associated with severe AAC. These differences may be due to the following reasons. First, the bioavailability of each diet-derived antioxidant is completely inconsistent. And the absorption, distribution, and metabolism of various diet-derived antioxidants are also not completely consistent. Through a meta-regression of in vitro studies, Yao et al. found that the bioavailability of β-carotene was positively correlated with the concentration of dietary fat [44]. As was expected and already known, fat-soluble vitamins were found to have the best oral absorption and the best bioavailability [45]. In addition, interactions between antioxidant substances can have different effects [46]. Second, lycopene is the most potent antioxidant. Di Mascio et al. found that lycopene’s singlet oxygen quenching ability is higher than γ-carotene, tocopherols, and β-carotene [43].
Multi-Carotenoids at Physiological Levels Inhibit VEGF-Induced Tube Formation of Endothelial Cells and the Possible Mechanisms of Action Both In Vitro and Ex Vivo
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2018
Chien-Hao Huang, Chin-Shiu Huang, Miao-Lin Hu, Cheng-Hung Chuang
Several studies have indicated that single carotenoids, such as lycopene (11, 12), β-carotene (13), and lutein (14) possess prominent antiangiogenic activities, but the concentrations of these carotenoids used were supraphysiological rather than physiological. In addition, carotenoids in combination (i.e., multi-carotenoids) have been shown to be more effective than a single carotenoid on antioxidation (15, 16) and anticancer actions (17–19). Stahl et al. (15) indicated that a combination of lycopene (1.5 μM) and lutein (1.5 μM) exhibits synergistic protection against damage in multilamellar liposomes. Moreover, Murakoshi et al. (19) indicated that administration of palm oil (0.05–0.005% in drinking water for 40 wk or 200 and 400 nM for 20 wk) containing 30% α-carotene, 60% β-carotene, and 10% other carotenoids (3% γ-carotene, 4% lycopene, etc.) significantly inhibits the spontaneous liver tumors formation in C3H/He mice. However, it is unclear whether multi-carotenoids at physiological levels have antiangiogenic effects.