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Abstract. Carotenoid intake is associated with low mortality and cancer risks; data on non-provitamin carotenoid intake is limited especially in Asians. We aimed to estimate carotenoid intake in Japanese adult women. Carotenoid content database comprises 196 food items, including 39 fruits, 87 vegetables and mushrooms, and 11 seaweeds, and was established using data from the literature and analyses of foods available in Japan. We surveyed the intake of these foods in Japanese women aged 21–56 years (n=109). Total intake of 7 carotenoids (mean±SD [range]) was 7,450±3,840 (1,160–21,300) μg/day; α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and fucoxanthin represented 4.3%, 23%, 3.4%, 15%, 2.0%, 39%, and 13% of total intake, respectively. Lutein intake was 1,132±686 (294–3,490) μg/day; its best sources were spinach, cucumber, chicken egg, green onion, and Chinese chives, representing 51% of total intake. Lutein can be obtained from a variety of sources. Thus, lutein intake levels did not vary widely among individuals and very few individuals consumed insufficient levels of lutein. Intake of zeaxanthin, lycopene, and fucoxanthin was 149±93 (2–479), 2,890±2,970 (0–17,100), and 980±1,230 (0–5,660) μg/day, respectively. Their intake required rich sources including chicken egg for zeaxanthin (52%); tomato products for lycopene (98%), and wakame seaweed for fucoxanthin (76%). The carotenoid content database including all food items consumed in Japan will be helpful for further investigations on carotenoid intake and its health benefits.

Blue-green light is known to maximize the degree of fatty acid (FA) unsaturation in microalgae. However, knowledge on the particular waveband responsible for this stimulation of FA desaturation and its impact on the pigment composition in microalgae remains limited. In this study, Acutodesmus obliquus was cultivated for 96 h at 15 degrees C with different light spectra (380-700 nm, 470-700 nm, 520-700 nm, 600-700 nm, and dark controls). Growth was monitored daily, and qualitative characterization of the microalgal FA composition was achieved via gas chromatography coupled with electron impact ionization mass spectrometry (GC-EI/MS). Additionally, a quantitative analysis of microalgal pigments was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Spectra that included wavelengths between 470 and 520 nm led to a significantly higher percentage of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) 18:3 and 16:4, compared to all other light conditions. However, no significant differences between the red light cultivations and the heterotrophic dark controls were observed for the FA 18:3 and 16:4. These results indicate, that exclusively the blue-green light waveband between 470 and 520 nm is responsible for a maximized FA unsaturation in A. obliquus. Furthermore, the growth and production of pigments were impaired if blue-green light (380-520 nm) was absent in the light spectrum. This knowledge can contribute to achieving a suitable microalgal pigment and FA composition for industrial purposes and must be considered in spectrally selective microalgae cultivation systems.

Background:Survival and progression of cancer cells are highly dependent on aerobic glycolysis. Strobilanthes crispus has been shown to have promising anticancer effects on breast cancer cells. The involvement of the glycolysis pathway in producing these effects is unconfirmed, thus further investigation is required to elucidate this phenomenon.Objective:This study aims to determine the effect of S. crispus active fraction (F3) and its bioactive components on glycolysis in triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231).Methods:This study utilizes F3, lutein, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol to be administered in MDA-MB-231 cells for measurement of antiglycolytic activities through cell poliferation, glucose uptake, and lactate concentration assays. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay of MDA-MB-231 cells after treatment with F3 and its bioactive components lutein, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol. The IC50 value in each compound was determined by MTT assay to be used in subsequent assays. The determination of glucose uptake activity and lactate concentration were quantified using fluorescence spectrophotometry.Results:Antiproliferative activities were observed for F3 and its bioactive components, with IC50 values of 100 μg/mL (F3), 20 μM (lutein), 25 μM (β-sitosterol), and 90 μM (stigmasterol) in MDA-MB-231 cells at 48 h. The percentage of glucose uptake and lactate concentration in MDA-MB-231 cells treated with F3, lutein, or β sitosterol were significantly lower than those observed in the untreated cells in a time-dependent manner. However, treatment with stigmasterol decreased the concentration of lactate without affecting the glucose uptake in MDA-MB-231 cells.Conclusion:The antiglycolytic activities of F3 on MDA-MB-231 cells are attributed to its bioactive components.

Scenedesmus obliquus ABC-009 is a microalgal strain that accumulates large amounts of lutein, particularly when subjected to growth-limiting conditions. Here, the performance of this strain was evaluated for the simultaneous production of lutein and biofuels under three different modes of cultivation - photoautotrophic mode using BG-11 with air or 2% CO2 and heterotrophic mode using YM medium. While it was found that the highest fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) level and lutein content per biomass (%) were achieved in BG-11 medium with CO2 and air, respectively, heterotrophic cultivation resulted in much higher biomass productivity. While the cell concentrations of the cultures grown under BG-11 and CO2 were largely similar to those grown in YM medium, the disparity in the biomass yield was largely attributed to the larger cell volume in heterotrophically cultivated cells. Post-cultivation light treatment was found to further enhance the biomass productivity in all three cases and lutein content in heterotrophic conditions. Consequently, the maximum biomass (757.14 ± 20.20 mg/L/d), FAME (92.78 ± 0.08 mg/L/d), and lutein (1.006 ± 0.23 mg/L/d) productivities were obtained under heterotrophic cultivation. Next, large-scale lutein production using microalgae was demonstrated using a 1-ton open raceway pond cultivation system and a low-cost fertilizer (Eco-Sol). The overall biomass yields were similar in both media, while slightly higher lutein content was obtained using the fertilizer owing to the higher nitrogen content of the medium.

Background: Higher circulating carotenoids are associated with lower breast cancer risk. The underlying biology remains under-explored. Methods: We profiled 293 prediagnostic plasma metabolites in a nested case–control study (n = 887 cases) within the Nurses' Health Studies. Associations between circulating carotenoids and metabolites were identified using linear-mixed models (FDR ≤ 0.05), and we further selected metabolites most predictive of carotenoids with LASSO. Metabolic signatures for carotenoids were calculated as weighted sums of LASSO selected metabolites. We further evaluated the metabolic signatures in relation to breast cancer risk using conditional logistic-regression. Results: We identified 48 to 110 metabolites associated with plasma levels of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, estimated-vitamin-A-potential, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene, which included primarily positively associated metabolites implicated in immune regulation (tryptophan), redox balance (plasmalogens, glutamine), epigenetic regulations (acetylated-/methylated-metabolites), and primarily inversely associated metabolites involved in β-oxidation (carnitines; FDR ≤ 0.05). The metabolomic signatures derived for β-carotene (Q4 vs. Q1 relative risk RR = 0.74, Ptrend = 0.02), and estimated-vitamin-A-potential (Q4 vs. Q1 RR = 0.74, Ptrend = 0.02)—measured ≥10 years before diagnosis—were associated with lower breast cancer risk. Modest attenuations of RR for measured levels of β-carotene and estimated-vitamin-A-potential were seen when we adjusted for their corresponding metabolic signatures. Conclusions: Metabolites involved in immune regulation, redox balance, membrane signaling, and β-oxidation were associated with plasma carotenoids. Although some metabolites may reflect shared common food sources or compartmental colocalization with carotenoids, others may signal the underlying pathways of carotenoids-associated lowered breast cancer risk. Impact: Consumption of carotenoid-rich diet is associated with a wide-range of metabolic changes which may help to reduce breast cancer risk.

PURPOSE Plasma F2-isoprostanes (FiP) concentration, a reliably measured, valid, systemic oxidative stress biomarker, has been associated with multiple health-related outcomes; however, associations of most individual dietary and lifestyle exposures with FiP are unclear, and there is no reported oxidative balance score (OBS) comprising multiple dietary and/or lifestyle components weighted by their associations with FiP. METHODS To investigate cross-sectional associations of dietary and lifestyle characteristics with plasma FiP concentrations, we used multivariable general linear models to compare adjusted mean FiP concentrations across categories of dietary nutrient and whole-food intakes and lifestyle characteristics in two pooled cross-sectional studies (n = 386). We also developed equal-weight and weighted OBS (nutrient- and foods-based dietary OBS, lifestyle OBS, and total OBS), and compared adjusted mean FiP concentrations across OBS tertiles. RESULTS Among men and women combined, adjusted mean FiP concentrations were statistically significantly, proportionately 28.1% higher among those who were obese relative to those who were normal weight; among those in the highest relative to the lowest total nutrient intake tertiles, FiP concentrations were statistically significantly lower by 9.8% for carotenes, 13.6% for lutein/zeaxanthin, 10.9% for vitamin C, 12.2% for vitamin E, 11.5% for glucosinolates, and 5% for calcium. Of the various OBS, the weighted OBS that combined total nutrient intakes and lifestyle exposures was most strongly associated with FiP concentrations: among those in the highest relative to the lowest total OBS, mean FiP concentrations were statistically significantly 29.7% lower (P

In order to construct nano-lutein hydrogels with sustained release properties, the basic properties and structure of nano-lutein hydrogels cross-linked with different concentrations of Ca2+ were investigated. The results showed that the highest loading capacity for lutein reached 770.88 μg/g, while the encapsulation efficiency was as high as 99.39%. When Ca2+ concentration was lower than 7.5 mM, the filling of lutein nanoparticles reduced the hardness and gumminess of the hydrogel. The resilience and cohesiveness of the hydrogel decreased as the concentration of Ca2+ increased. Filling with lutein nanoparticles and increasing Ca2+ concentration both increased the G′ and G″. The hydrogel loaded with lutein showed different swelling properties in different pH environments, the filling of lutein nanoparticles inhibited the swelling of the hydrogel. When Ca2+ concentration was greater than 7.5 mM, the cut-off amount of lutein on the surface of the Ca2+ cross-linked hydrogel was larger. The digestive enzymes quickly degraded the hydrogel structure, resulting in a high initial release of lutein. DSC and FTIR results showed that lutein nanoparticles were mainly physically trapped in the hydrogel network structure. Lutein nanoparticles and excessive Ca2+ affected the stability of cross-linked ionic bonds in the hydrogel, thereby reducing its thermodynamic stability.

Carotenoids are the pigments present in plants, animals, and microorganisms which are responsible for a broad variety of colors found in nature. Their capacity as antioxidants mainly established their marketable success as health, food, and feed supplements, and cosmetics components. Currently, chemical synthesis dominates the worldwide market; however, due to the high biological value of natural carotenoids, the production scheme is moving towards microbial production as a profitable alternative.

Author(s): Yu, Shu; Li, Michelle; Dubcovsky, Jorge; Tian, Li | Abstract: Grains of tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) mainly accumulate the non-provitamin A carotenoid lutein-with low natural variation in provitamin A β-carotene in wheat accessions necessitating alternative strategies for provitamin A biofortification. Lycopene e-cyclase (LCYe) and β-carotene hydroxylase (HYD) function in diverting carbons from β-carotene to lutein biosynthesis and catalyzing the turnover of β-carotene to xanthophylls, respectively. However, the contribution of LCYe and HYD gene homoeologs to carotenoid metabolism and how they can be manipulated to increase β-carotene in tetraploid wheat endosperm (flour) is currently unclear. We isolated loss-of-function Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes (TILLING) mutants of LCYe and HYD2 homoeologs and generated higher order mutant combinations of lcye-A, lcye-B, hyd-A2, and hyd-B2. Hyd-A2 hyd-B2, lcye-A hyd-A2 hyd-B2, lcye-B hyd-A2 hyd-B2, and lcye-A lcye-B hyd-A2 hyd-B2 achieved significantly increased β-carotene in endosperm, with lcye-A hyd-A2 hyd-B2 exhibiting comparable photosynthetic performance and light response to control plants. Comparative analysis of carotenoid profiles suggests that eliminating HYD2 homoeologs is sufficient to prevent β-carotene conversion to xanthophylls in the endosperm without compromising xanthophyll production in leaves, and that β-carotene and its derived xanthophylls are likely subject to differential catalysis mechanisms in vegetative tissues and grains. Carotenoid and gene expression analyses also suggest that the very low LCYe-B expression in endosperm is adequate for lutein production in the absence of LCYe-A. These results demonstrate the success of provitamin A biofortification using TILLING mutants while also providing a roadmap for guiding a gene editing-based approach in hexaploid wheat.

The impact of lutein-loaded nanoemulsions and excipient nanoemulsions mixed with lutein-based dietary supplements (capsules and soft gels) on the bioaccessibility of lutein was explored using a simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The particle size, particle size distribution, ζ-potential, microstructure, lipid digestibility, and lutein bioaccessibility of all the samples were measured after they were exposed to different environments (stomach and small intestine environments) within a simulated GIT. As expected, the bioaccessibility of lutein from the capsules (1.5%) and soft gels (3.2%) was relatively low when they were administered alone. However, the co-administration of excipient nanoemulsions significantly increased the bioaccessibility of lutein from both the capsules (35.2%) and soft gels (28.7%). This phenomenon was attributed to the fast digestion of the small oil droplets in the excipient nanoemulsions and the further formation of mixed micelles to solubilize any lutein molecules released from the supplements. The lutein-loaded nanoemulsions exhibited a much higher lutein bioaccessibility (86.8%) than any of the supplements, which was attributed to the rapid release and solubilization of lutein when the lipid droplets were rapidly and extensively digested within the small intestine. This study indicates that the bioaccessibility of lutein is much higher in nanoemulsion droplets than that in dietary supplements. However, consuming dietary supplements in the presence of nanoemulsion droplets can greatly increase lutein bioavailability. The results of this study have important guiding significance for the design of more effective lutein supplements.

Background: Microalgae are microorganisms that produce various products, for example, pigments, mainly carotenoids. This study aimed to used the strain of Muriellopsis sp. and to evaluate their behavior when grown in freshwater and seawater, along with indoor and outdoor conditions for both cultures. Growth of the strain was evaluated by determining its biomass, lutein productivity with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and antioxidant activity by using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhydrazil (DPPH method). Results: Muriellopsis sp. strain in indoor cultures showed an increased antioxidant activity. In outdoor conditions, both cultures showed increased cells number, concentration of biomass, and lutein productivity. The percentage of lutein obtained from the strain MCH in indoor conditions was 25 times higher than that reported for calendula, reaching 0.75% of lutein in Muriellopsis sp. cultured in seawater, followed by 0.6% in Muriellopsis sp., cultures in freshwater at day 12 of both cultures. These values exceed that of microalgae Scenedesmus almeriensis , which reaches 0.53% lutein. Conclusions: The results show that the native strain of the Atacama Desert is one of the largest producers of lutein as compared to those reported to date. The study demonstrated the feasibility of producing this carotenoid with well-known properties to prevent some diseases due to its high nutritional value. Muriellopsis sp. cultivation in open-air seawater is a good precedent for developing mass production of this species in an area where freshwater is scarce and costly. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabla normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and evaluated the total phenolic content, it also determined the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the ethanol (EtOH) extract of the whole plant of Dicliptera verticillata. The phytochemical study was carried out using repeated silica gel column chromatography followed by Sephadex LH-20 to purify the extract which afforded three known compounds: lutein (1), shikimic acid (2) and guaiacylglycerol (3). The structures of these compounds were identified after analyses of their NMR and MS data and comparison of these data with those reported in the literature. The antioxidant and antibacterial activities were evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical assay and the broth macrodilution method, respectively. The EtOH extract showed moderate antioxidant activity (63.9%; IC50 40.16 μg/mL), weak total phenolic content and had a bactericidal effect against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli). This is the first report on the isolation of compounds (1–3), as well as the total phenolic content and the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the EtOH extract of D. verticillata.

Mesocarp color is an important agronomic trait of Cucurbita maxima and is determined mainly by the contents and compositions of the carotenoids. The two inbred lines with significant differences in fruit flesh color were used in the study, the orange ‘312-1’ and white ‘98-2’. Changes in seven carotenoid contents and compositions in the flesh of fruit produced by inbred lines ‘312-1’ and ‘98-2’ were analyzed during fruit development. The expression of eight key carotenoid biosynthesis genes in the fruit flesh were investigated during five fruit development stage in two inbred lines. As the flesh color intensified, the orange flesh color of ‘312-1’ was determined mainly by the increased contents of lutein, β-carotene and zeaxanthin and the lack of carotenoid accumulation led to the formation of white flesh in ‘98-2’ fruit. The expression of the LCY-e and CHYb genes was significantly stronger in ‘312-1’ than in ‘98-2’, and their expression was strongly correlated with lutein and β-carotene contents during fruit development. This study provides a deep understanding of the molecular mechanism of carotenoid biosynthesis in fruit flesh and provides a basis for additional studies on the highly refined improvement of squash quality.

Carotenoids are natural antioxidants, affecting apoptosis, absorbing active forms of oxygen, and improving visual performance through their blue light filtering capabilities. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids of the macular pigment that play a significant role in protecting against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. We analyzed the dietary sources of lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin of young adults living in a megapolis. We analyzed 431 food frequency questionnaires and used two different criteria for comparison: age (groups A1 and A2) and season (groups S1, spring, and S2, autumn). Raw red tomatoes and eggs are the main sources of carotenoids for the majority of respondents regardless of age and season. Significant differences between age groups were found for parsley, carrot, cheeseburger, and spring onion. Foods with high levels of carotenoids (tomato juice, pumpkin, spinach, and sprouts) were absent in the diets of most of the study participants. Watermelons and persimmons are seasonal sources of lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Dietary sources of carotenoids are present in insufficient quantities in the diets. Foods with high levels of lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are absent or only occasionally included in the diet.

Lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), as macular pigments, are water-insoluble, chemically unstable, and have low bioaccessibilities; they are often emulsified to overcome these limitations. This study investigated the impact of various emulsifiers (ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE); Tween 80; and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)) on the physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibilities of L/Z-fortified oil-in-water emulsions. Droplet aggregation and creaming extents were dependent on the emulsifier type. The ζ-potentials of emulsions stabilized by LAE, Tween 80, and SDS were + 87, - 26, and - 95 mV, respectively. SDS-stabilized emulsion had the smallest particles, while the particle sizes for the LAE- and Tween 80-stabilized emulsions were larger and not significantly different. The rates of L/Z degradation were sensitive to the emulsifier type and to heat, not to light. The L/Z bioaccessibility was the highest for the Tween 80 emulsion. Surfactants should therefore be carefully selected to optimize L/Z physicochemical stability and bioaccessibility in emulsions.

This study aimed to evaluate the role of spices/spice active principles on physical, biochemical, and molecular targets of bioaccessibility/bioavailability. Carotenoids-rich micellar fraction obtained through simulated digestion of green leafy vegetables (GLV) with individual or two/three combinations were correlated to their influence on bioaccessibility, cellular uptake, and basolateral secretion of carotenoids in Caco-2 cells. Results suggest that carotenoids' bioaccessibility depends on micelles physicochemical properties, which is affected due to the presence of co-treated dietary spices and their composition. Increased bioaccessibility of β-carotene (BC) and lutein (LUT) is found in GLV (spinach) digested with turmeric (TM) than red pepper (RP) and black pepper (BP). In contrast, enhanced cellular uptake and secretion of BC and LUT-rich triglyceride-rich lipoprotein is observed in the presence of RP and BP compared to the control group. In contrast, TM inhibited absorption, while retinol levels significantly reduced in the presence of TM and RP than BP. Control cells have indicated higher cleavage of β-carotene to retinol than the spice-treated group. Besides, spice active principles modulate facilitated transport of carotenoids by scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) protein. The effect of spices on carotenoids' bioavailability is validated with active spice principles. Overall, carotenoids' bioavailability (cellular uptake and basolateral secretion) was found in the following order of treatments; piperine > capsaicin > piperine + capsaicin > curcumin + capsaicin + piperine > control > turmeric. These findings suggested that the interaction of specific dietary factors, including spice ingredients at the enterocyte level, could provide greater insight into carotenoid absorption. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Spices/spice active principles play a role in the digestion process by stimulating digestive enzymes and bile acids secretion. Since carotenoids are lipid soluble and have low bioavailability, spice ingredients' influence on intestinal absorption of carotenoids is considered crucial. Hence, understanding the interaction of co-consumed spices on the absorption process of carotenoids may help to develop functional foods/formulation of nutraceuticals to improve their health benefits.

The seriousness and menace of the worldwide weight of ‘Alzheimer’s disease have been related to a few factors, which incorporate antioxidant system depletion, mutation of proteins, and high expression of cholinesterases due to aging, environmental influence, diet, infectious agents, and hormonal imbalance. Overexpression of cholinesterases has been emphatically connected to ‘Alzheimer’s disease because of the unreasonable hydrolysis of acetylcholine and butyrylcholine. Certain plant phytochemicals, for example, beta-carotenoids, lutein, neoxanthin, and viola-xanthine from Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Var. esculentum (ESC) and Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Var. cerasiforme (CER) has been utilized altogether as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of ‘Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, this research sought to investigate the drug-likeness of the individual carotenoids as detailed for cholinesterase inhibition in the treatment of ‘Alzheimer’s disease. Four potential cholinesterase inhibitors from ESC and CER were retrieved from the PubChem database. Investigation of their drug-likeness, toxicity prediction, molecular docking, and dynamic simulations were carried out using Molinspiration, PreADMET V.2.0, Patchdock server, and Schrodinger Maestro software respectively. Neoxanthin was ranked the safest with a greater tendency to inhibit the cholinesterases with high binding affinity. In addition, its stability after simulation in a mimicked biological environment suggests its relevance as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of ‘Alzheimer’s disease through the inhibition of cholinesterases.

Background Carrot (Daucus carota L.), an important root vegetable, is very popular among consumers as its taproot is rich in various nutrients. Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salt, and low temperature, are the main factors that restrict the growth and development of carrots. Non-heme carotene hydroxylase (BCH) is a key regulatory enzyme in the β-branch of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, upstream of the abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis pathway. Results In this study, we characterized a carrot BCH encoding gene, DcBCH1. The expression of DcBCH1 was induced by drought treatment. The overexpression of DcBCH1 in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in enhanced tolerance to drought, as demonstrated by higher antioxidant capacity and lower malondialdehyde content after drought treatment. Under drought stress, the endogenous ABA level in transgenic A. thaliana was higher than that in wild-type (WT) plants. Additionally, the contents of lutein and β-carotene in transgenic A. thaliana were lower than those in WT, whereas the expression levels of most endogenous carotenogenic genes were significantly increased after drought treatment. Conclusions DcBCH1 can increase the antioxidant capacity and promote endogenous ABA levels of plants by regulating the synthesis rate of carotenoids, thereby regulating the drought resistance of plants. These results will help to provide potential candidate genes for plant drought tolerance breeding.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of blanching and spinach drying methods on the physicochemical and cooking properties of enriched pasta. Blanched and unblanched spinach were subjected to fixed bed drying and foam mat drying and used to enrich the pasta. The pasta enriched with blanched spinach showed more desirable physicochemical properties, for both drying methods. The blanching associated with fixed bed drying resulted in a greener enriched pasta with a higher total chlorophyll content (9.66 mg/100 g d.b.). On the other hand, foam mat drying contributed to less degradation of total carotenoids and antioxidant activity (ABTS and DPPH methods), with values of 798.01 µg of lutein/100 g d.b., 7.14 µM Trolox/g d.b. and 84.81% RSC, respectively. The spinach flours used for enrichment did not significantly affect the technological properties of the pasta. Spinach blanched and dried in a foam mat to obtain flour represents a potential alternative for enriching the pasta, since this processing contributed to the greater preservation of the product's compounds.

Microalgae are a potential source of a wide range of food and novel value-added products. The versatility of microalgae to produce different kind of pigments is gaining interest as a sustainable source of natural carotenoids. Currently, commercial production of carotenoids from selected microalgae requires special culture conditions which are difficult to maintain. The present study has been undertaken to optimize culture conditions for growth and carotenoid production by a new isolate Scenedesmus quadricauda PUMCC 4.1.40. The results revealed that test organism produced 1.54 mg dry biomass/ml with a content of 40 μg carotenoids/mg dry biomass during stationary phase. The growth and carotenoid production was increased by 2.4-fold under combined optimized culture conditions. The optimized conditions were growth medium, Chu-10; pH 8.5; temperature, 30°C; nitrogen, 20 mM nitrate; phosphate, 0.22 mM; NaCl, 0.42 mM and blue light. Separation and identification of four important carotenoids through high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) followed by purification using flash chromatography and quantification by HPLC revealed 23.8, 19.0, 6.5, and 4.0 μg astaxanthin, β-carotene, lutein, and canthaxanthin /mg dry biomass, respectively. The amount of total carotenoids (98 μg/mg dry biomass) containing 40% valuable astaxanthin and β-carotene produced under optimized conditions was significantly higher than control cultures. This justifies that S. quadricauda is a promising candidate for scale-up production of carotenoid.

This study evaluated the influence of active spice ingredients on the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of different carotenoids at the enterocyte level. Briefly, carotenoids solubilized micellar fractions obtain by simulated digestion of spinach (β-carotene; BC and lutein; LUT) or brown seaweed (fucoxanthin; FUCO) or shrimp (astaxanthin; AST) either with or without curcumin/capsaicin/piperine. Further, physicochemical properties (particle size and viscosity) of micelles were analyzed and correlated bioaccessibility, permeability characteristics, and bioavailability of carotenoids in Caco-2 cells. The digestion of carotenoid's source with spice compound affected carotenoid solubilization/micellization, cumulative percent of particle size, and viscosity in the following order of spice compound treatments; curcumin > capsaicin > piperine > control. The carotenoids level in micelles higher in capsaicin and piperine than curcumin and control digested groups. The increased carotenoids bioaccessibility may be due to lesser hydrophobic interaction found in capsaicin and piperine than curcumin. Further, based on importance and distinct nature, BC and LUT were used bioavailability studies. The enhanced cellular uptake and secretion of carotenoids in triglycerides rich lipoproteins by capsaicin and piperine is due to changes in integrity, permeability, the fluidity of the epithelial barrier of absorption than curcumin and control groups. These findings opine the interaction of carotenoids with specific dietary component (spices) and their regulatory metabolism at the intestinal level is vital for the enteral nutrition of carotenoids.

The liver has a solid inbuilt antioxidant defense system to regulate oxidative stress. However, exposure to an excessive level of ROS causes liver injury. This study examined the cytoprotective effect of neoxanthin, a xanthophyll antioxidant molecule isolated from Solanum trilobatum in stress-induced HepG2 cells. The cytotoxic effect of H2O2 and cytoprotective potential of β-carotene, lutein, and neoxanthin was analyzed by WST-1 assay. The intracellular ROS level and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured using DCFH-DA (2′, 7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate) and JC-10 MMP assay. The expression of anti-oxidant and apoptotic markers was measured by western blot analysis. Neoxanthin pretreatment exhibited better protection than β-carotene and lutein against cell death caused by H2O2. It significantly arrested H2O2-mediated elevation of intracellular ROS levels and protected MMP. The intracellular antioxidant enzymes HO-1 and SOD-2 were upregulated by neoxanthin pretreatment. Neoxanthin also activated the protein expression of redox-sensitive transactivation factors, Nrf2 and NF-kB. The cytoprotective effect of neoxanthin was associated with increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 and decreased pro-apoptotic protein Bax. For the first time, our results demonstrate that neoxanthin offers adequate protection against stress-mediated cytotoxicity in hepatocytes by activating the intracellular antioxidant defense system and blocking apoptosis.

Fresh basil and parsley leaves are perishable and they are often processed by drying, which is an energy-consuming process and contributes to nutrient degradation. These downsides can, however, be mitigated by various pre-drying treatments. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of different treatments (ultrasound, steaming, dipping) and their duration (20, 30 min) on contents of chlorophylls and lutein (analyzed by UPLC-PDA), total phenolic content (TPC), as well as antioxidant capacity (determined as DPPH radical scavenging activity) in basil and parsley leaves. The changes in the chemical properties after treatments were more significant in the case of basil than parsley, probably due to a lower thickness of leaf epidermis layer and stiffness of the former. In comparison to fresh leaves, enhanced extractability of chlorophyll a after all treatments and TPC after dipping for 20 min, was observed in basil. In parsley, instead, the chlorophylls content remained unchanged after treatments, but TPC decreased. Lutein content remained stable in both herbs following different treatments. Irrespectively of the treatment type, the TPC and antioxidant capacity were higher after 20 min of basil treatments, while in the case of parsley, higher TPC was determined after longer treatments (30 min). The study demonstrated that the investigated treatments could preserve or even enhance the chemical properties of herbs.

Background High macular pigment optical density (MPOD) has been associated with improved eye health and better cognitive functions. Genetic variations have been associated with MPOD in adults. However, these associations between genetic variations and MPOD have not been studied in children. Objectives This was a secondary analysis of the FK2 (Fitness Improves Thinking in Kids 2) trial (n = 134, 41% male). The aim was to determine differences in MPOD among children (aged 7-9 y) based on genetic variants that either are biologically relevant to lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) accumulation or have been associated with MPOD in adults. Methods MPOD was measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry via a macular densitometer. DXA was used to assess whole-body and visceral adiposity. DNA was extracted from saliva samples and was genotyped for 26 hypothesis-driven single nucleotide polymorphisms and 75 ancestry-informative markers (AIMs). Habitual diet history was obtained via 3-d food logs completed by parents (n = 88). General linear models were used to compare MPOD between different genotypes. Principal component analysis was performed for the AIMs to account for ethnic heterogeneity. Results Children carrying ≥1 minor allele on β-carotene-15,15'-monooxygenase (BCO1)-rs7501331 (T allele) (P = 0.045), cluster of differentiation 36(CD36)-rs1527483 (T allele) (P = 0.038), or CD36-rs3173798 (C allele) (P = 0.001) had significantly lower MPOD (range: 14.1%-26.4%) than those who were homozygotes for the major alleles. MPOD differences based on CD36-rs3173798 genotypes persisted after adjustment for dietary L and Z intake. Conclusions The findings indicate that genetic variations of CD36 and BCO1 contribute to MPOD in children. The influence of genetic variation in CD36-rs3173798 persisted after adjusting for variation in dietary intake.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01619826.

A method for the synthesis of all-trans-isomers of lutein and zeaxanthin has been proposed, which includes the stage of esterification of lutein and zeaxanthin with benzoic acid in the presence of enantioselective lipase Novozyme 435. Further hydrolysis of lutein and zeaxanthin dibenzoates has led to the formation of the initial xanthophylls in the all-trans configuration.

The market-expanding lutein is currently mainly supplied by plant extraction, with microbial fermentation using engineered cell factory emerging as a promising substitution. During construction of lutein-producing yeast, α-carotene formation through asymmetric ε- and β-cyclization of lycopene was found as the main limiting step, attributed to intra-pathway competition of the cyclases for lycopene, forming β-carotene instead. To solve this problem, temperature-responsive expression of β-cyclase was coupled to constitutive expression of ε-cyclase for flux redirection to α-carotene by allowing ε-cyclization to occur first. Meanwhile, the ε-cyclase was engineered and re-localized to the plasma membrane for further flux reinforcement towards α-carotene. Finally, pathway extension with proper combination of carotenoid hydroxylases enabled lutein (438 μg/g dry cells) biosynthesis in S. cerevisiae. The success of heterologous lutein biosynthesis in yeast suggested temporospatial pathway control as a potential strategy in solving intra-pathway competitions, and may also be applicable for promoting the biosynthesis of other natural products.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and lutein are important nutrients for brain health. Whether there were synergistic effects of DHA and lutein on the protection against neuronal cell damage induced by oxidative stress remained unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the synergistic effects of DHA and lutein against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative challenge in PC12 cells. PC12 cells were divided into different groups and received H2O2 (80 μM), lutein (20 μM)+H2O2 (80 μM), DHA (25 μM)+H2O2 (80 μM), and lutein (20 μM)+DHA (25 μM)+H2O2 (80 μM), respectively. The results indicated that pre-treatment of cells with lutein, DHA and DHA+lutein could significantly antagonize the H2O2-mediated growth inhibition and morphological changes in PC12 cells (p

Background/aim This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of lutein/zeaxanthin isomers (L/Zi) on lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, NF-κB/Nrf2 pathways, and synaptic plasticity proteins in trained rats. Materials and methods Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: 1) control, 2) L/Zi: rats received L/Zi at the dose of 100 mg/kg by oral gavage, 3) exercise, 4) exercise+L/Zi: rats exercised and received L/Zi (100 mg/kg) by oral gavage. The duration of the study was eight weeks. Results Exercise combined with L/Zi reduced lipid peroxidation and improved antioxidant enzyme activities of muscle and cerebral cortex in rats (p < 0.001). In the Exercise + L/Zi group, muscle and cerebral cortex Nrf2 and HO-1 levels increased, while NF-κB levels decreased (p

Objective: Cancer chemoprevention with phytochemicals such as “lutein” derived from the vegetable okra could prove beneficial. Therefore, the objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of “lutein” against the breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) and to establish the possible development of lutein based nutraceuticals. Methodology: A literature survey was performed using online data bases such as PubMed, Google scholar, and EMBASE, from 2000 to 2020 by using keywords such as “Lutein”, “Anticancer activity”, “Breast cancer cell lines”, and “MCF-7”. Studies reported lutein anticancer potentials against MCF-7 were included in the study. Results: Out of 28 studies, 7 research articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis data indicated that, a lutein concentration at ≥1 µM was able to reduce the MCF-7 cell viability of 59.837 with a 95% confidence interval (CI): 48.331 to 71.343. Additionally, a forest plot of the cumulative studies also indicated that impact of lutein concentration to reduce the MCF-7 cell viability was around 60%. Moreover, the I2 value of lutein was 74%, which is a considerable heterogeneity. Conclusion: Therefore, based upon the meta-analysis data, the conclusion is that dietary lutein supplementation and fortification of food with clinical data could be an approach to develop a nutraceutical product for preventive, as well as for adjunct therapeutic purposes in various breast cancer subtypes.

Lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z), xanthophylls obtained from the diet, are deposited in the macula of the eye. The macular concentration of L/Z is quantifiable as macular pigment optical density (MPOD). The aim of this review was to critically appraise the effect on MPOD of increasing L/Z intake by dietary intervention in adults. Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Cinahl were searched up to April 2020. Ten studies investigating populations with and without age-related macular degeneration were included. MPOD increased significantly in 2 of the 8 controlled studies. Studies varied largely in the prescribed dietary L/Z dosage, duration, and participant characteristics. No relationships between types of dietary L/Z interventions and MPOD response could be determined. Limited monitoring of habitual dietary L/Z intake was identified as a major limitation of all 10 studies. Habitual dietary L/Z intake should be closely monitored in future studies to account for their effects on MPOD response to dietary L/Z interventions.

The present study investigated the effect of ripening stages and chemical precursors on acrylamide formation in deep-fried chips of five plantains and one cooking banana. The highest level of acrylamide was found in the cooking banana, followed by False Horn plantain and French plantain, respectively. French plantain hybrids exhibited a significantly lower (P 0.60) with acrylamide formation in fried chips. The higher level of TP was significantly related (P

Lutein, a type of carotenoids, is found to delay the onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Several lutein supplementation studies showed that after an initial increase, lutein serum levels demonstrated a subsequent decrease despite continuous supplementation. In this systematic literature review, this obscure phenomenon was tried to be explained. The subsequent drop in lutein levels was postulated due to down-regulation of lutein receptors scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) in the gastrointestinal tract, upregulation of lutein degrading enzyme β-carotene dioxygenase (BCDO2), or perhaps a combination of both. Some single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) that could have influence on the occurrence of this phenomenon. To date, an exact scientific explanation for this phenomenon has not been established. Further research is needed to investigate this phenomenon in depth to reach an irrefutable explanation, giving that lutein is proven to be effective in delaying the onset and progression of AMD and its metabolism in the human body becomes of equal importance.

Vancomycin, an antibiotic used occasionally as a last line of treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is reportedly associated with nephrotoxicity. This study aimed at evaluating the protective effects of lutein against vancomycin-induced acute renal injury. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and its associated role in renoprotection by lutein was also examined. Male BALB/c mice were divided into six treatment groups: control with normal saline, lutein (200 mg/kg), vancomycin (250 mg/kg), vancomycin (500 mg/kg), vancomycin (250 mg/kg) with lutein, and vancomycin (500 mg/kg) with lutein groups; they were euthanized after 7 days of treatment. Thereafter, samples of blood, urine, and kidney tissue of the mice were analyzed, followed by the determination of levels of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in the urine, renal creatine kinase; protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde, and caspase-3 in the kidney; and the expression of PPARγ, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) in renal tissue. Results showed that the levels of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde, and the activity of NAG, creatine kinase and caspase-3, were significantly increased in the vancomycin-treatment groups. Moreover, the levels of Nrf2 significantly decreased, while NF-κB expression increased. Lutein ameliorated these effects, and significantly increased PPARγ expression. Furthermore, it attenuated vancomycin-induced histological alterations such as, tissue necrosis and hypertrophy. Therefore, we conclude that lutein protects against vancomycin-induced renal injury by potentially upregulating PPARγ/Nrf2 expression in the renal tissues, and consequently downregulating the pathways: inflammation by NF-κB and apoptosis by caspase-3.