•A combination UOD and coating (AA, CA) was applied prior to air drying of apricot.•UOD preserved higher β-carotene and antioxidant activity in dried apricots.•AA coating after UOD decreased TPC and ...vitamin C losses and increased β-carotene.•A combination of pretreatments could preserve the quality of final dried samples.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of osmotic dehydration (with and without sonication) and the use of different types of edible coating on functional and color parameters of dried apricot. Osmotic pretreatment was carried out in sorbitol solution of 35 °Brix at 55 °C for 30 and 45 min. Two levels of ultrasound frequency (25 and 35 kHz) were tested. Samples were coated using pectin + citric acid (CA), pectin + ascorbic acid (AA) and pectin alone after osmotic treatment and were dried at 60 °C. The results revealed that ultrasound assisted osmotic dehydration (UOD) led to the loss of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and vitamin C compared to osmotic dehydration (OD). TPC and β-carotene contents decreased with the increase in sonication frequency from 25 to 35 kHz. However, UOD pretreated samples showed higher antioxidant capacity and β-carotene content than OD apricots. OD improved color of hot-air dried apricot compared to UOD pretreatment. The use of pectin + AA coating increased TPC and vitamin C retention and total antioxidant activity of OD or UOD pretreated samples compared to pectin or pectin + CA coatings. UOD and pectin + AA coated samples showed lower L* and b*, and higher a* values, whereas coating with CA improved color of dried apricot cubes. Coatings containing CA or AA promoted β-carotene retention in dried apricot pretreated by OD and UOD.
Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) characterized by impaired social interaction & communication & restricted & repetitive behavior. The incidence of ASD is 1–2%, &it increases to 10–20% in families ...predisposed to ASD. There is no effective way to treat or prevent ASD, and only symptomatic treatment with limited efficacy is available. Oxytocin (Oxt) enhances affiliative behavior & improves social cognition. Social deficits characteristic of autism may be related to dysfunctional Oxt neurotransmission. Thus, Oxt may relieve ASD, however it has a short plasma half-life & poor Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability. CD38, a multifunctional ecto-enzyme expressed in brain & immune cells, is critical for social behavior via regulation of Oxt secretion. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) , a potent inducer of CD38 & improves social behavior, but it is toxic & teratogenic. We have shown that beta-carotene has similar therapeutic effect. The present study aimed to investigate the activity of novel beta-carotene derivatives in rescuing low sociability in BTBR mice, providing an in vivo “proof of principle” that beta-carotene derivatives are potential agents to prevent/ameliorate the reappearance of ASD in high-risk populations for ASD. Beta-carotene & its synthetic analogs administered orally to newborn BTBR mice with ASD associated like behavior. After 2 months, they tested by cognitive (T-maze spontaneous alteration and neurological score) and behavioral tests (reciprocal social interaction, repetitive grooming / bedding behavior), indicators for autistic behavior. Serum Oxt; gene expression in hippocampus & hypothalamus of CD38, Oxt, Oxt receptor, BDNF, & retinoic acid receptor. The most effective compounds, were (3R,3’R)-astaxanthin bis(N-Cbz-l-alanine ester) (3B(and (3S,3’S)-astaxanthin bis(N,N-dimethylglycine ester (5),without neurological symptoms. Thus, beta-carotene derivatives may have the potential to prevent and/or ameliorate autistic symptoms when administered orally after birth to newborns of families predisposed to autism.
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•Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction & communication, restricted & repetitive behavior.•The incidence of ASD is 1–2%, & increases dramatically to 10–20% in families predisposed to ASD.•There is no effective way to treat or prevent ASD, & only symptomatic treatment with limited efficacy available.•Oxytocin (Oxt) enhances affiliative behavior & improves social cognition. Social deficits characteristic of autism related to dysfunctional Oxt neurotransmission.•Oxt may relieve ASD, however it has short plasma half-life & poor Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability.•Beta-carotene derivatives may have potential to prevent and/or ameliorate autistic symptoms when administered orally after birth to newborns of families predisposed to autism.
Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction & communication as well as restricted and repetitive behavior. The currently reported incidence of ASD is 1–2%, and it increases dramatically to 10–20% in families predisposed to ASD. To date, there is no effective way to treat or prevent ASD, and only symptomatic treatment with limited efficacy is available. Oxytocin (Oxt) enhances affiliative behavior and improves social cognition. Social deficits characteristic of autism may be related to dysfunctional Oxt neurotransmission. Thus, administration of Oxt may relieve ASD, however it has a short plasma half-life and poor Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability. CD38, a multifunctional ecto-enzyme expressed in brain and immune cells, was found to be critical for social behavior via regulation of Oxt secretion. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a potent inducer of CD38 and improves social behavior, but it is toxic and teratogenic. We have shown that beta-carotene has a similar therapeutic effect.
The present study aimed to investigate the activity of novel beta-carotene derivatives in rescuing low sociability found in BTBR mice, providing an in vivo “proof of principle” that beta-carotene derivatives are potential agents to prevent/ameliorate the reappearance of ASD in high-risk populations for ASD.
Beta-carotene and its synthetic analogs were administered orally to newborn BTBR mice with ASD associated like behavior. After 2 months, they were tested (at dosages of 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) by cognitive (T-maze spontaneous alteration and neurological score) and behavioral tests (reciprocal social interaction, repetitive grooming / bedding behavior), previously shown as indicators for autistic behavior. The following biochemical and molecular biology parameters were also examined: serum Oxt; gene expression in hippocampus and hypothalamus of CD 38, Oxt, Oxt receptor, BDNF, and retinoic acid receptor. The new compounds were significantly more effective than control. The most effective compounds, both in the behavioral tests and in their biochemical effects, were (3R,3′R)-astaxanthin bis(N-Cbz-l-alanine ester) (3B(and (3S,3′S)-astaxanthin bis(N,N-dimethylglycine ester (5). They did not exert any neurological symptoms.
Thus, beta-carotene derivatives may have the potential to prevent and/or ameliorate autistic symptoms when administered orally after birth to newborns of families predisposed to autism.
β-carotene is the most abundant provitamin A carotenoid in human diet and tissues. It exerts a number of beneficial functions in mammals, including humans, owing to its ability to generate vitamin A ...as well as to emerging crucial signaling functions of its metabolites. Even though β-carotene is generally considered a safer form of vitamin A due to its highly regulated intestinal absorption, detrimental effects have also been ascribed to its intake, at least under specific circumstances. A better understanding of the metabolism of β-carotene is still needed to unequivocally discriminate the conditions under which it may exert beneficial or detrimental effects on human health and thus to enable the formulation of dietary recommendations adequate for different groups of individuals and populations worldwide. Here we provide a general overview of the metabolism of this vitamin A precursor in mammals with the aim of identifying the gaps in knowledge that call for immediate attention. We highlight the main questions that remain to be answered in regards to the cleavage, uptake, extracellular and intracellular transport of β-carotene as well as the interactions between the metabolism of β-carotene and that of other macronutrients such as lipids.
Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid present in the chloroplasts of brown seaweeds. When ingested, it is metabolized mainly to fucoxanthinol by digestive enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract. These compounds ...have been shown to have many beneficial health effects, including anti-mutagenic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic actions. In every cancer tested, modulatory actions of fucoxanthinol on viability, cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis and members of the NF-κB pathway were more pronounced than that of fucoxanthin. Anti-proliferative and cancer preventing influences of fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol are mediated through different signalling pathways, including the caspases, Bcl-2 proteins, MAPK, PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT, AP-1, GADD45, and several other molecules that are involved in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, anti-angiogenesis or inhibition of metastasis. In this review, we address the mechanisms of action of fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol according to different types of cancers. Current findings suggest that these compounds could be effective for treatment and/or prevention of cancer development and aggressiveness.
The carotenoid pigment astaxanthin has important applications in the nutraceutical, cosmetics, food and feed industries.
Haematococcus pluvialis is the richest source of natural astaxanthin and is ...now cultivated at industrial scale. Astaxanthin is a strong coloring agent and a potent antioxidant – its strong antioxidant activity points to its potential to target several health conditions. This article covers the antioxidant, UV-light protection, anti-inflammatory and other properties of astaxanthin and its possible role in many human health problems. The research reviewed supports the assumption that protecting body tissues from oxidative damage with daily ingestion of natural astaxanthin might be a practical and beneficial strategy in health management.
With a homogenization–evaporation method, β-carotene (BC) loaded nanoparticles were prepared with different ratios of food-grade sodium caseinate (SC), whey protein isolate (WPI), or soy protein ...isolate (SPI) to BC and evaluated for their physiochemical stability, in vitro cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake by Caco-2 cells. The particle diameters of the BC loaded nanoparticles with 0.75% SC or 1.0% WPI emulsifiers were 75 and 90 nm, respectively. Mean particle diameters of three BC loaded nanoparticle nanoemulsions increased less than 10% at 4 °C while they increased more at 25 °C (10–76%) during 30 days of storage. The oxidative stability of BC loaded nanoparticles encapsulated by proteins decreased in the following order: SC > WPI > SPI. The retention rates of BC in nanoparticles were 63.5%, 60.5%, and 41.8% for SC, WPI, and SPI, respectively, after 30 days of storage at 25 °C. The BC’s chemical stability was improved by increasing the concentration of protein. Both the rate of particle growth and the total BC loss at 25 °C were larger than at 4 °C. The color of BC loaded nanoparticles decreased with increasing storage in the dark without oxygen, similar to the decrease in BC content of nanoparticles at 4 and 25 °C. Almost no cytotoxicity due to BC loaded nanoparticles cellular uptake was observed, especially when diluted 10 times or more. The uptake of BC was significantly improved through nanoparticle delivery systems by 2.6-, 3.4-, and 1.7-fold increase, respectively, for SC, WPI, and SPI, as compared to the free BC. The results of this study indicate that protein stabilized, BC loaded nanoparticles can improve stability and uptake of BC.
Carrot, tomato and papaya represent important dietary sources of β-carotene and lycopene. The main objective of the present study was to compare the bioavailability of carotenoids from these food ...sources in healthy human subjects. A total of sixteen participants were recruited for a randomised cross-over study. Test meals containing raw carrots, tomatoes and papayas were adjusted to deliver an equal amount of β-carotene and lycopene. For the evaluation of bioavailability, TAG-rich lipoprotein (TRL) fractions containing newly absorbed carotenoids were analysed over 9·5 h after test meal consumption. The bioavailability of β-carotene from papayas was approximately three times higher than that from carrots and tomatoes, whereas differences in the bioavailability of β-carotene from carrots and tomatoes were insignificant. Retinyl esters appeared in the TRL fractions at a significantly higher concentration after the consumption of the papaya test meal. Similarly, lycopene was approximately 2·6 times more bioavailable from papayas than from tomatoes. Furthermore, the bioavailability of β-cryptoxanthin from papayas was shown to be 2·9 and 2·3 times higher than that of the other papaya carotenoids β-carotene and lycopene, respectively. The morphology of chromoplasts and the physical deposition form of carotenoids were hypothesised to play a major role in the differences observed in the bioavailability of carotenoids from the foods investigated. Particularly, the liquid-crystalline deposition of β-carotene and the storage of lycopene in very small crystalloids in papayas were found to be associated with their high bioavailability. In conclusion, papaya was shown to provide highly bioavailable β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and lycopene and may represent a readily available dietary source of provitamin A for reducing the incidence of vitamin A deficiencies in many subtropical and tropical developing countries.
Undesirable aggregation of nanoparticles stabilized by proteins may occur at the protein’s isoelectric point when the particle has zero net charge. Stability against aggregation of nanoparticles may ...be improved by reacting free amino groups with reducing sugars by the Maillard reaction. β-Lactoglobulin (BLG)–dextran conjugates were characterized by SDS-PAGE and CD. Nanoparticles (60–70 nm diameter) of β-carotene (BC) encapsulated by BLG or BLG–dextran were prepared by the homogenization–evaporation method. Both BLG and BLG–dextran nanoparticles appeared to be spherically shaped and uniformly dispersed by TEM. The stability and release of BC from the nanoparticles under simulated gastrointestinal conditions were evaluated. Dextran conjugation prevented the flocculation or aggregation of BLG–dextran particles at pH ∼4–5 compared to very large sized aggregates of BLG nanoparticles. The released contents of BC from BLG and BLG–dextran nanoparticles under acidic gastric conditions were 6.2 ± 0.9 and 5.4 ± 0.3%, respectively. The release of BC from BLG–dextran nanoparticles by trypsin digestion was 51.8 ± 4.3% of total encapsulated BC, and that from BLG nanoparticles was 60.9 ± 2.9%. Neither BLG–BC nanoparticles nor the Maillard-reacted BLG–dextran conjugates were cytotoxic to Caco-2 cells, even at 10 mg/mL. The apparent permeability coefficient (P app) of Caco-2 cells to BC was improved by nanoencapsulation, compared to free BC suspension. The results indicate that BC-encapsulated β-lactoglobulin–dextran-conjugated nanoparticles are more stable to aggregation under gastric pH conditions with good release and permeability properties.
β-Carotene, the most abundant provitamin A carotenoid in the diet, is converted to retinal by β-carotene 15,15'-monoxygenase (BCMO1). However, β-carotene absorption and conversion into retinal is ...extremely variable among individuals, with proportions of low responders to dietary β-carotene as high as 45%. Recently, 2 common nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the BCMO1 coding region (R267S; rs12934922 and A379V; rs7501331) revealed reduced catalytic activity, confirming that genetic variations contribute to the low responder phenotype. Because 4 SNPs 5' upstream from the BCMO1 gene were recently shown to affect circulating carotenoid concentrations, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of these SNPs on β-carotene conversion efficiency. Three of the 4 polymorphisms (rs6420424, rs11645428, and rs6564851) reduced the catalytic activity of BCMO1 in female volunteers by 59, 51, and 48%, respectively. The TG-rich lipoprotein fraction retinyl palmitate:β-carotene ratio was negatively correlated with the G allele of rs11645428 (r = -0.44; P = 0.018), whereas it was positively correlated with the G allele of rs6420424 (r = 0.53; P = 0.004) and the T allele of rs6564851 (r = 0.41; P = 0.028). Furthermore, large inter-ethnic variations in frequency of affected alleles were detected, with frequencies varying from 43 to 84% (rs6420424), 52 to 100% (rs11645428), and 19 to 67% (rs6564851). In summary, a range of SNPs can influence the effectiveness of using plant-based provitamin A carotenoids to increase vitamin A status in at-risk population groups and this effect may vary depending on ethnic origin.
► Nitrogen depletion leads to a transient increase in biomass yield on light. ► β-carotene accumulation and fatty acid accumulation are not correlated. ► β-carotene accumulation and degree of fatty ...acid unsaturation correlate negatively. ► β-carotene accumulation correlates with oleic acid biosynthesis.
Nitrogen availability and light intensity affect β-carotene overproduction in the green alga Dunaliella salina. Following a previous study on high-light stress, we here report on the effect of nitrogen depletion on the growth characteristics and β-carotene as well as fatty acid metabolism of D. salina under a constant light regime in a turbidostat. Upon nitrogen depletion, the biomass yield on absorbed light approximately doubled, due to a transient increase in cell division rate, swelling of the cells and a linear increase of the density of the cells. Simultaneously, β-carotene started to accumulate up to a final intracellular concentration of 14mgLCV−1 (i.e. 2.7% of AFDW). This β-carotene production accounted for 6% of the increased density of the cells, indicating that other biochemical constituents accumulated as well. Since D. salina accumulates β-carotene in lipid globules, we also determined the fatty acid content and composition of D. salina. The intracellular concentration of the total fatty acid pool did not change significantly during nitrogen starvation, indicating that β-carotene and total fatty acid accumulation were unrelated, similar to what was found previously for high-light treated cells. However, for both high-light and nitrogen stress, β-carotene accumulation negatively correlated with the degree of unsaturation of the total fatty acid pool and, within the individual fatty acids, correlated positively with oleic acid biosynthesis, suggesting that oleic acid may be a key component of the lipid-globule-localized triacylglycerols and thereby in β-carotene accumulation.
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