Fat-soluble Pigments Research Articles

Recent Advances in the Carotenoids Added to Food Packaging Films: A Review.

Food spoilage is one of the key concerns in the food industry. One approach is the improvement of the shelf life of the food by introducing active packaging, and another is intelligent packaging. Detecting packed food spoilage in real-time is key to stopping outbreaks caused by food-borne diseases. Using active materials in packaging can improve shelf life, while the nonharmful color indicator can be useful to trace the quality of the food through simple color detection. Recently, bio-derived active and intelligent packaging has gained a lot of interest from researchers and consumers. For this, the biopolymers and the bioactive natural ingredient are used as indicators to fabricate active packaging material and color-changing sensors that can improve the shelf life and detect the freshness of food in real-time, respectively. Among natural bioactive components, carotenoids are known for their good antimicrobial, antioxidant, and pH-responsive color-indicating properties. Carotenoids are rich in fruits and vegetables and fat-soluble pigments. Including carotenoids in the packaging system improves the film's physical and functional performance. The recent progress on carotenoid pigment-based packaging (active and intelligent) is discussed in this review. The sources and biological activity of the carotenoids are briefly discussed, and then the fabrication and application of carotenoid-activated packaging film are reviewed. The carotenoids-based packaging film can enhance packaged food's shelf life and indicate the freshness of meat and vegetables in real-time. Therefore, incorporating carotenoid-based pigment into the polymer matrix could be promising for developing novel packaging materials.

Bio-Circular green economy application for the recovery of high value added compounds, such as astaxanthin and glucosamine, from cephalothorax of Karamote shrimp Peneaus kerathurus in Western Greece

Shrimp waste can be used as source of high value added compounds, such as astaxanthin and glucosamine. Astaxanthin (C40H52O4) is a xanthophyll carotenoid and belongs to a larger class of terpenes. Astaxanthin exists in stereoisomers, geometric isomers, free and esterified forms based on the reaction with fatty acid. It is a fat soluble colorful pigment and can be found in aquatic environment in microalgae, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish and crustaceans. It has both lipophilic and hydrophilic properties, protect cells, lipids and membrane lipoproteins against oxidative damage. D-glucosamine (C6H13NO5), an amino sugar (hexosamine), is a part of the structure of two polysaccharides, chitosan and chitin. Naturally shows up in human body and crustacean shells. Glucosamine exists in the form of glucosamine sulphate, glucosamine hydrochloride, or N-acetyl-glucosamine and is extensively used as a dietary supplement in the treatment for osteoarthritis, knee and back pain. This research aims to optimize by chemical methods the extraction of glucosamine and astaxanthin from cephalothorax of Karamote shrimp Peneaus (Melicertus) kerathurus. Astaxanthin yield obtained using hexane as extraction solvent. Furthermore, results showed that G-HCl yield obtained with solid/liquid ratio of 1:20, at high hydrolysis reaction temperature and with agitation. Additionally, the low cooling temperature of 5 °C and the use of ethanol support the formation of G-HCl crystals.

In vitro and in silico analysis for elucidation of antioxidant potential of Djiboutian Avicennia Marina (Forsk.) Vierh. phytochemicals

The present work aims to study the phytochemical composition, the antioxidant capacity of the crude extracts, and the fraction of extract giving the best antioxidant activity of Avicennia marina. The leaves contain high TFC compared to other parts of the plant, whereas fruits have the highest amount of TPC. Fat-soluble pigments are strongly present in the leaves of Avicennia marina i.e. β-carotene, lycopene, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b. The crude methanolic flower extracts showed strong DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 0.30 and 0.33 mg/mL respectively compared to the leaf and stem methanolic extracts for the DPPH and ABTS models with a value IC50 greater than 1 mg/mL. The crude fruit extract shows good activity with the ABTS model, unlike the DPPH model whose IC50 values are 0.95 and 0.38 mg/mL, respectively. Fractionation improved the antioxidant effect of crude flower extract. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibits the best antioxidant activity for both DPPH and ABTS methods with IC50 values of 0.125 and 0.16 mg/mL. The HR–LCMS/MS led to the identification of 13 compounds: 6 flavonoids and 7 iridoid glycoside compounds in the different parts of the plant. A bioinformatics study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the three major Iridoid glycosides towards the target protein Catalase compound II through free binding energy. Out of these three iridoid glycosides, compound C10 does not represent any toxicity, unlike C8 and C9 which showed an irritancy effect. Furthermore, molecular dynamics shows good stability of the C10–2CAG complex. Highlights Extraction and fractionation of different part (leaf, stem, flower and fruit) of Avicennia marina. Botanical description and phytochemical analysis of crude extract methanolic. Investigation by HR-LCMS characterization of polyphenols and iridoid glycosides. Evaluation the antioxidant activity of crudes extracts methanolics by two methods in vitro DPPH and ABTS. Antioxidant activity of the fraction of the crude flower extracts presenting the best biological response. Evaluate the contribution of three major compounds 2′-Cinnamoylmussaenosidic acid, 10-O-[E-Cinnamoyl]-geniposidic acid and 10-O-[(E)-p-Coumaroyl]-geniposidic acid in the ethyl acetate fraction on the antioxidant activity through docking and dynamic molecular. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Effects of Astaxanthin supplementation on selected metabolic parameters, anthropometric indices, Sirtuin1 and TNF-α levels in patients with coronary artery disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Atherosclerosis can develop as a result of an increase in oxidative stress and concurrently rising levels of inflammation. Astaxanthin (AX), a red fat-soluble pigment classified as a xanthophyll, may be able to prevent the vascular damage induced by free radicals and the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. The objective of the current study is to assess the effects of AX supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD). This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted among 50 CAD patients. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups to intake either AX supplements (12 mg/day) or placebo for 8 weeks. Lipid profile, glycemic parameters, anthropometric indices, body composition, Siruin1 and TNF-α levels were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. Body composition, glycemic indices, serum levels of TNF-α, Sirtuin1 did not differ substantially between the AX and placebo groups (p > 0.05). The data of AX group showed significant reduction in total cholesterol (-14.95 ± 33.57 mg/dl, p < 0.05) and LDL-C (-14.64 ± 28.27 mg/dl, p < 0.05). However, TG and HDL-C levels could not be affected through AX supplementation. Our results suggest that AX supplementation play a beneficial role in reducing some components of lipid profile levels. However, further clinical investigations in CAD patients are required to obtain more conclusive findings. www.Irct.ir., identifier IRCT20201227049857N1.

Novel strategy for color-controllable Pickering emulsion: Location control of pigments at different phase

To develop a novel strategy for preparing color-controllable emulsion by controlling pigments spatial location, the stable Pickering emulsion (O/W) was firstly established by using zein-chitosan nanoparticles (ZCNPs) as outer layer and medium chain triglyceride as inner phase. Three fat-soluble pigments (FSPs), curcumin, oil red and oil blue, were introduced into this emulsion system by controlling their location (in outer layer or inner phase). The physical properties, qualitative and quantitative color analysis of the emulsion were investigated by encapsulation efficiency, confocal laser scanning microscope and values of L*a*b*. The loading efficiency of ZCNPs to FSPs maintained at 87.6%–89.3%, and had 95% of oil encapsulation efficiency. Different from the blending coloring strategy, the emulsions formed in this paper showed better chroma (based on L*a*b* values) with even fewer additive pigments amount. Under the same amount of pigment, the saturation of the emulsion (FSPs in outer layer) could increase by 81.5%. This study might provide a new color control strategy for complex food systems. • The structure of Pickering emulsion was defined as outer layer or inner phase. • ZCNPs had a higher loading efficiency for the three FSPs. • Pickering emulsion stabilized by ZCNPs was stable. • Color could be adjusted by changing the location of pigments in the emulsion. • The emulsion color was more susceptible to outer layer.

Lutein Induces Apoptosis of Gastric Cancer Cells by Producing Reactive Oxygen Species via NADPH Oxidase Activation

ObjectivesApoptosis is well known for its relationship with cancer. Disruption of apoptosis leads to tumor progression, and many cytotoxic anticancer agents induce apoptosis. As a class of phytochemicals, carotenoids are fat-soluble pigments that are abundant in fruits and vegetables and have health-promoting properties, including cancer prevention effects. The anticancer effects of carotenoids are related to their pro-oxidant activities. Lutein is a type of vitamin called a carotenoid. A recent study showed that lutein inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells. The present study was purposed to determine whether lutein induces apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated mechanism. MethodsHuman gastric cancer cell line, AGS was treated with lutein. Cell viability was determined by counting the number of viable cells. The protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, active caspase-3 were examined by western blot analysis. DNA fragmentation was determined by Cell Death Detection ELISA. DCF-DA fluorescence technique was used to quantify the intracellular ROS level. NADPH oxidase activity was measured by lucigenin assay. Colony formation assay was performed and colonies were counted. ResultsLutein decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Colony formation was also inhibited by lutein. Lutein increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 activity, and DNA fragmentation. The intracellular ROS level and NADPH oxidase activity were increased. The decrease in cell viability by lutein was reversed by ML171 (NADPH oxidase 1 specific inhibitor) and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC; antioxidant). ConclusionsLutein induce apoptosis of gastric cancer cells by increasing NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS production. Funding SourcesNo funding sources.

Obtaining Fat-Soluble Pigments—Carotenoids from the Biomass of Chlorella Microalgae

The aim of this study was to use a directed mode of cultivation of the microalgae Chlorella for biomass production, followed by the subsequent extraction of carotenoids. The effect of a stress inducer of carotenogenesis (hydrogen peroxide) and a growth stimulator (pyridoxine, vitamin B6) on the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments by the biomass of the microalga C. vulgarisBIN in the process of directed cultivation was studied. It was revealed that the combination of these additives in the culture medium increases the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids in the biomass twofold compared to the control sample. The preliminary activation of the biomass by high-speed ultra-homogenization (a rotor rotation range from 6000 to 12,000 rpm) was also investigated. Using ultrasound extraction, the pigment complex was isolated from the activated biomass. The saponification and subsequent neutralization of carotenoids were carried out in an inert medium. The resulting sample contained carotenoids in the amount of 52 ± 3 mg/mL. The chemical profile of the carotenoids in the biomass of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris BIN was also established. The major carotenoid was lutein (45%), followed by fucoxanthin (12%) and β-carotene (4.3%). The oil extract of the carotenoids may be used for the further production of a microencapsulated product with the aim of targeted delivery to the lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Unravelling the neuroprotective mechanisms of carotenes in differentiated human neural cells: Biochemical and proteomic approaches

Carotenoids, fat-soluble pigments found ubiquitously in plants and fruits, have been reported to exert significant neuroprotective effects against free radicals. However, the neuroprotective effects of total mixed carotenes complex (TMC) derived from virgin crude palm oil have not been studied extensively. Therefore, the present study was designed to establish the neuroprotective role of TMC on differentiated human neural cells against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced cytotoxicity. The human neural cells were differentiated using retinoic acid for six days. Then, the differentiated neural cells were pre-treated for 24 hr with TMC before exposure to 6-OHDA. TMC pre-treated neurons showed significant alleviation of 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity as evidenced by enhanced activity of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. Furthermore, TMC elevated the levels of intra-neuronal dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in differentiated neural cells. The 6-OHDA induced overexpression of α-synuclein was significantly hindered in neural cells pre-treated with TMC. In proteomic analysis, TMC altered the expression of ribosomal proteins, α/β isotypes of tubulins, protein disulphide isomerases (PDI) and heat shock proteins (HSP) in differentiated human neural cells. The natural palm phytonutrient TMC is a potent antioxidant with significant neuroprotective effects against free radical-induced oxidative stress.

Responses of bloom-forming Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene microplastics exposure: Growth and photosynthesis

Microplastics were often detected in water environment, however, their effects on algal blooms were unclear. In this study, the growth and photosynthesis capacity of bloom-forming algae Microcystis aeruginosa growing with 10–100 ​mg/L polystyrene microplastics (MPs) (5 ​μm) under low (105 ​cells/mL) and high (106 ​cells/mL) initial algal density were investigated. The results showed that microplastics had a U-shaped effect on the growth of microalgae under both initial algal densities. In the early (1 ​d) and end (7 ​d) stages of cultivation, the promotion effect was obvious, and the maximum promotion rate was (133.33 ​± ​14.43)%, while the promotion was weakened or even inhibited in the middle stage (2–5 ​d), and the maximum inhibition rate was (30.00 ​± ​14.14)%. Under low initial algal density, the contents of water-soluble pigments (phycoerythrin, phycocyanin and allophycocyanin) and fat-soluble pigments (chlorophyll a and carotenoids) in 50 and 100 ​mg/L group were inhibited at 4 ​d, then recovered at 7 ​d. Under high initial algal density, water-soluble pigment contents decreased from 4 ​d to 7 ​d, while the fat-soluble pigments continued to recover to the control. The chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of 50 and 100 ​mg/L groups were suppressed in the early and late stages of microalgae growth. In summary, high concentrations of polystyrene microplastics (50 and 100 ​mg/L) would cause significant fluctuations in the growth and photosynthesis of M. aeruginosa, and growth-promoting effects in the early and late stages of the experiment indicated that MPs had the potential to exacerbate M. aeruginosa blooms.

Effects of Molecular Distillation on the Chemical Components, Cleaning, and Antibacterial Abilities of Four Different Citrus Oils.

Essential oils (EOs) from citrus fruits are excellent aromatic resources that are used in food, cosmetics, perfume, and cleaning products. EOs extracted from four citrus varieties, sweet orange, grapefruit, mandarin, and lemon, were separated into two fractions by molecular distillation. The composition, physicochemical properties, cleaning ability, and antimicrobial activity of each EO were then systematically evaluated. The relationships between each of the aforementioned characteristics are also discussed. In keeping with the principle of “like dissolves like,” most citrus EOs show better cleaning ability than acetone and all tend to dissolve the fat-soluble pigment. The key components of citrus EOs are 1-Decanol, α-terpineol, geraniol, and linalool for the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, respectively. The findings of this study will be of significant importance for the effective utilization of citrus peel resources and in the development of future applications for citrus EOs.Chemical Compounds Studied in This Article: (+)-α-Pinene (PubChem CID: 6654); β-Phellandrene (PubChem CID: 11142); 3-Carene (PubChem CID: 26049); β-Myrcene (PubChem CID: 31253); D-Limonene (PubChem CID: 440917); γ-Terpinene (PubChem CID: 7461); Octanal (PubChem CID: 454); Decanal (PubChem CID: 8175); Linalool (PubChem CID: 6549); 1-Octanol (PubChem CID: 957); β-Citral (PubChem CID: 643779); α-Terpineol (PubChem CID: 17100); Hedycaryol (PubChem CID: 5365392); α-Citral (PubChem CID: 638011); 1-Decanol (PubChem CID: 8174); Geraniol (PubChem CID: 637566).

HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS as a Tool for Carotenoid Assessment of Wild and Cultivated Cherry Tomatoes

Carotenoids are naturally occurring fat-soluble pigments found in many organisms. Because of their extensively conjugated carbon–carbon double bond system, carotenoids are potent antioxidants. Although the most abundant carotenoid and best singlet oxygen quencher found in red tomatoes is lycopene, carotenoid profiles may vary between genotypes. The objective of this work was to perform carotenoid profile indentification using HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS in ten wild cherry tomato accessions and one cultivated tomato. A mixture of hexane/acetone/ethanol (50:25:25) and 0.1% BHT was used for carotenoid extraction. For separation, a C30 column at 30 °C with a gradient consisting of methanol, methyl-tert-butyl ether, and water was used for their analysis. Ten major carotenoids were quantified within cherry tomato samples. All accessions present different profiles and quantities of carotenoids. Wild red tomatoes had more lycopene content that commercial tomato, whereas yellow tomatoes present no lycopene. From a functional viewpoint, higher concentrations of carotenoids that could play an antioxidant activity were measured from accessions IAC401, IAC426, LA1480, IAC391, and LA2692. This trait means that these germplasms may be targets for commercial activities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS has been used to analyze these accessions of wild cherry tomatoes that are both functionally promising and suitable for projects with social implementation at a local scale.

Label-free quantitative proteomics analysis of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) during different growth stages.

Chinese jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.), a member of the Rhamnaceae family with favorable nutritional and flavor quality, exhibited characteristic climacteric changes during its fruit growth stage. Therefore, fruit samples were harvested at four developmental stages on days 55 (young fruits), 76 (white-mature fruits), 96 (half-red fruits), and 116 (full-red fruits) after flowering (DAF). This study then investigated those four growth stage changes of the jujube proteome using label-free quantification proteomics. The results identified 4762 proteins in the samples, of which 3757 proteins were quantified. Compared with former stages, the stages examined were designated as “76 vs. 55 DAF” group, “96 vs. 76 DAF” group, and “116 vs. 96 DAF” group. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG annotation and enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) showed that 76 vs. 55 DAF group pathways represented amino sugar, nucleotide sugar, ascorbate, and aldarate metabolic pathways. These pathways were associated with cell division and resistance. In the study, the jujube fruit puffing slowed down and attained a stable growth stage in the 76 vs. 55 DAF group. However, fatty acid biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism was mainly enriched in the 96 vs. 76 DAF group. Fatty acids are precursors of aromatic substances and fat-soluble pigments in fruit. The upregulation of differential proteins at this stage indicates that aromatic compounds were synthesized in large quantities at this stage and that fruit would enter the ripening stage. During the ripening stage, 55 DEPs were identified to be involved in photosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis in the 116 vs. 96 DAF group. Also, the fruit entered the mature stage, which showed that flavonoids were produced in large quantities. Furthermore, the color of jujube turned red, and photosynthesis was significantly reduced. Hence, a link was established between protein profiles and growth phenotypes, which will help improve our understanding of jujube fruit growth at the proteomic level.

Carotenoid Production by Rhodosporidium paludigenum Using Orange Peel Extract as Substrate

Carotenoids are fat-soluble pigments that have various benefits in health and beauty. The demand and market of carotenoids are increasing; thus, the faster and cheaper biological production of these pigments using microorganisms is desired. In this study, the optimum medium pH and nitrogen concentration for carotenoid production by Rhodosporidium ( R. ) paludigenum using orange peel extract as substrate were determined. The soluble sugars from orange peels were extracted using distilled water at 100 °C. The yeast inoculum was cultivated in Yeast Peptone Dextrose (YPD) media before fermentation. The independent variables in the fermentation factorial design included initial medium pH (5; 6; and 7) and nitrogen concentration (0; 1; and 1.75 g/L urea in the medium). The decrease in reducing sugar concentration and the increase in biomass dry weight during fermentation demonstrated carbon source consumption by R. paludigenum for growth and carotenoid production. On the sixth day of fermentation (D6), the culture was harvested for the total carotenoid extraction and determination. The highest total carotenoid yield (107.63 µg/g) was achieved by the treatment group with an initial medium pH of 6 without nitrogen supplementation. This result indicated the orange peel extract potential as a substrate for carotenoid production using R. paludigenum as a workhorse. This was the first reported research in natural carotenoid generation using R. paludigenum (strain InaCC Y-236) locally isolated in Indonesia as the producer and orange peel extract as the substrate. Thus, this research would enrich the microbial carotenoid exploration and waste valorization to value-added products at the same time. The study can then be developed further and upscaled for industrial applications.Â

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of total carotenoids from mandarin epicarp and application as natural colorant in bakery products

Adding value to fruit by-products would satisfy global demand for natural additives and reduce impacts on the environment. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to optimize the process of ultrasound-assisted extraction of total carotenoids from mandarin epicarp for use as a natural colorant in two bakery products. The response surface methodology with composite central design were used to maximize ultrasound-assisted extraction of fat soluble pigments. Optimization of carotenoid extraction was achieved when the ultrasound process was carried out at a temperature of 60 °C for 60 min with a solid to liquid ratio of 0.0004 g/mL, where the maximum extraction of total carotenoids was 140.70 ± 2.66 mg β-carotene/100 g of dry sample. The carotenoid lipid extracts obtained from the tangerine epicarp could be a natural coloring additive with the potential to reduce the use of tartrazine in bakery products such as cakes and bread.

Effect of supplementation, temperature and pH on carotenoids and lipids production by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa on sisal bagasse hydrolyzate

Carotenoids are pigments naturally present in plant and animal cells, which can also be chemically synthesized. Since they are fat-soluble pigments, they are usually found together with lipids. An alternative way of obtaining these compounds is through biotechnological production, in which agro-industrial residues can be used as substrates. The present study aimed to determine the variables that majorly influence the lipids and carotenoids production by the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa , using sisal bagasse hydrolyzate as substrate. Plackett-Burman design was carried out with eight input variables and three response variables. Yeast carotenoid production was mainly influenced by temperature and pH, with maximum biomass (12.87 g L −1 ) obtained at a temperature of 34.0 °C and a pH of 5.0, and maximum carotenoid synthesis (1.13 g L −1 ) at a temperature of 22.0 °C and a pH of 7.0. The results suggest that through the control of the cultivation conditions (pH and temperature), it is possible to use the sisal bagasse as substrate for the lipids and carotenoids production using the yeast R. mucilaginosa . The sisal bagasse-yeast system has the potential to obtain lipids and carotenoids on a large scale and at a reduced cost. In addition, the lipid profile obtained, rich in essential fatty acids , mainly oleic and linoleic, configure the biocompounds produced as high quality, with potential for application in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors.

A review on the application and effect of carotenoids with respect to canthaxanthin in the culture of fishes and crustaceans

Fisheries sector serves as a substantial source of income and employment for a huge number of individuals around the world and it comparatively remains a crucial source of food and nutrition. Culture of aquatic species for food and ornamental purpose has been on increasing trend. High-performance feeds are formulated for the growth and progress of the cultured animals, usually supplemented with carotenoids of natural and synthetic origin. The market acceptability of ornamental fishes depends on pigmentation, one of the considerable attributes for determining quality. Carotenoids are a group of fat-soluble pigments broadly distributed in nature and are well recognized for their bright red, yellow, and orange colours. Studies on these carotenoids over decades have shown that these carotenoids are beneficial for the fish and crustacean aquaculture and also in the ornamental trade by imparting pigmentation. Canthaxanthin falls under the category of red keto-carotenoid and is one of the most important xanthophylls in the business perspective due to its extensive application in the field, next to astaxanthin. A large portion of the commercial canthaxanthin available in the market are chemically synthesized as the naturally available canthaxanthin are found in very lower concentrations. In addition, to a lesser extent, they are also implicated in the growth performances, digestion and as an anti-oxidant. This review updates the ongoing advancement on canthaxanthin on the dietary utilisation, storage, pigmentation and other enhanced growth performances on the aquaculture of food fish, crustacean and ornamental fishes.

Oxidative Stress and Marine Carotenoids: Application by Using Nanoformulations.

Carotenoids are natural fat-soluble pigments synthesized by plants, algae, fungi and microorganisms. They are responsible for the coloration of different photosynthetic organisms. Although they play a role in photosynthesis, they are also present in non-photosynthetic plant tissues, fungi, and bacteria. These metabolites have mainly been used in food, cosmetics, and the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to their utilization as pigmentation, they have significant therapeutically applications, such as improving immune system and preventing neurodegenerative diseases. Primarily, they have attracted attention due to their antioxidant activity. Several statistical investigations indicated an association between the use of carotenoids in diets and a decreased incidence of cancer types, suggesting the antioxidant properties of these compounds as an important factor in the scope of the studies against oxidative stress. Unusual marine environments are associated with a great chemical diversity, resulting in novel bioactive molecules. Thus, marine organisms may represent an important source of novel biologically active substances for the development of therapeutics. Marine carotenoids (astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, β-carotene, lutein but also the rare siphonaxanthin, sioxanthin, and myxol) have recently shown antioxidant properties in reducing oxidative stress markers. Numerous of bioactive compounds such as marine carotenoids have low stability, are poorly absorbed, and own very limited bioavailability. The new technique is nanoencapsulation, which can be used to preserve marine carotenoids and their original properties during processing, storage, improve their physiochemical properties and increase their health-promoting effects. This review aims to describe the role of marine carotenoids, their potential applications and different types of advanced nanoformulations preventing and treating oxidative stress related disorders.

Carotenoid metabolism in mitochondrial function

AbstractMitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that are found in most eukaryotic organisms. It is broadly accepted that mitochondria originally evolved from prokaryotic bacteria, e.g. proteobacteria. The mitochondrion has its independent genome that encodes 37 genes, including 13 genes for oxidative phosphorylation. Accumulative evidence demonstrates that mitochondria are not only the powerhouse of the cells by supplying adenosine triphosphate, but also exert roles as signalling organelles in the cell fate and function. Numerous factors can affect mitochondria structurally and functionally. Carotenoids are a large group of fat-soluble pigments commonly found in our diets. Recently, much attention has been paid in carotenoids as dietary bioactives in mitochondrial structure and function in human health and disease, though the mechanistic research is limited. Here, we update the recent progress in mitochondrial functioning as signalling organelles in human health and disease, summarize the potential roles of carotenoids in regulation of mitochondrial redox homeostasis, biogenesis, and mitophagy, and discuss the possible approaches for future research in carotenoid regulation of mitochondrial function.

Palmitoylation of Metazoan Carotenoid Oxygenases.

Abundant in nature, carotenoids are a class of fat-soluble pigments with a polyene tetraterpenoid structure. They possess antioxidant properties and their consumption leads to certain health benefits in humans. Carotenoid cleavage oxygenases (CCOs) are a superfamily of enzymes which oxidatively cleave carotenoids and they are present in all kingdoms of life. Complexity of CCO evolution is high. For example, in this study we serendipitously found a new family of eukaryotic CCOs, the apocarotenoid oxygenase-like (ACOL) family. This family has several members in animal genomes and lacks the animal-specific amino acid motif PDPCK. This motif is likely to be associated with palmitoylation of some animal CCOs. We recently demonstrated that two mammalian members of the carotenoid oxygenase family retinal pigment epithelial-specific 65 kDa protein (RPE65) and beta-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) are palmitoylated proteins. Here we used the acyl-resin-assisted capture (acyl-RAC) method to demonstrate protein palmitoylation and immunochemistry to localize mouse BCO2 (mBCO2) in COS7 cell line in the absence and presence of its substrate β-carotene. We demonstrate that mBCO2 palmitoylation depends on the evolutionarily conserved motif PDPCK and that metazoan family members lacking the motif (Lancelet beta-carotene oxygenase-like protein (BCOL) and Acropora ACOL) are not palmitoylated. Additionally, we observed that the palmitoylation status of mBCO2 and its membrane association depend on the presence of its substrate β-carotene. Based on our results we conclude that most metazoan carotenoid oxygenases retain the evolutionarily conserved palmitoylation PDPCK motif to target proteins to internal membranes depending on substrate status. Exceptions are in the secreted BCOL subfamily and the strictly cytosolic ancient ACOL subfamily of carotenoid oxygenases.

Changes of pigment components in Dendrobium catenatum flower under different storage conditions

The flower color of Dendrobium catenatum(D. officinale) tends to fade during storage. In order to clarify the influence of storage conditions on the pigment components in flowers, two conditions were applied:temperature and illumination. The contents of pigments in the D. catenatum flower were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC, and the changes of them during storage were analyzed. The results showed that illumination and temperature had an effect on the pigments of D. catenatum flower during sto-rage. Illumination significantly promoted the degradation of pigments. The contents of total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were significantly lower than those in the dark. The total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were decreased by 46.5%, 63.4%, and 69.2% respectively. Illumination had a greater effect on fat-soluble pigments than water-soluble pigments. Among the three temperature treatments, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin were as follows:-20 ℃&gt;4 ℃&gt;room temperature, it is indicated that-20 ℃ was the best temperature to maintain the stability of pigment composition. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, β-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin in the light samples decreased by 34.8%, 69.0%, 72.5%, 61.6%, 36.1%, respectively. After storage for 5 months, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin constituent at-20 ℃ was significantly higher than those at 4 ℃ and room temperature. The results show that light avoiding and low-temperature can effectively slow down the degradation of pigment components. Therefore, it is suggested that D. catenatum flower should be stored in light avoiding and low-temperature conditions in actual production and processing, which can prolong the usable time.