Low Carotenoid Content Research Articles

Carotenoid Levels in Maturing Grapes as Affected by Climatic Regions, Sunlight and Shade

The effect of climatic region, degree of ripeness, sunlight and shade on carotenoid concentrations in Weisser Riesling and Chenin blanc grapes was investigated. Lutein and beta-carotene concentrations were higher in grapes from hot regions than grapes from cooler regions. In general, decreases in carotenoid concentrations were observed with an increase in ripeness. Also, grapes exposed to sunlight generally had lower carotenoid concentrations than shaded grapes. Both lutein and beta-carotene concentrations varied little between Weisser Riesling and Chenin blanc grapes at comparable ripening stages.

Iron Bioavailability in Field Pea Seeds: Correlations with Iron, Phytate, and Carotenoids

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a nutritious pulse crop consumed as food and animal feed in many countries. The present study was performed to determine the potential effects of Fe, phytate, and carotenoid concentrations on Fe bioavailability (FeBIO) of field pea seeds. Selected PR‐07 (recombinant inbred line [RIL] population derived from the cross ‘Carrera’/‘CDC Striker’) lines, which segregated for Fe concentration and cotyledon color, showed positive correlation between their Fe concentration and FeBIO. In a second study, lines 4802‐8 (derived from the cross 1‐2347‐144/‘CDC Raezer’) and 4803‐4 (derived from the cross 1‐150‐81/‘CDC Limerick’), segregating for phytate concentration and cotyledon color were evaluated for FeBIO. Phytate concentration was negatively correlated with FeBIO in 4802‐8 (r = −0.34) and 4803‐4 (r = −0.37) sublines. Four carotenoid compounds (lutein, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and β‐carotene) were measured in seeds of 4802‐8 and 4803‐4 sublines and summed to determine total carotenoid concentration. Green cotyledon and yellow cotyledon pea sublines did not differ significantly in total carotenoid concentration; β‐carotene was detected in green cotyledon sublines but not in yellow cotyledon sublines. Although no significant correlation was detected between total carotenoid concentration and FeBIO, in 4802‐8 sublines lutein concentration was positively correlated (r = 0.41) with FeBIO. This research shows the potential positive associations between low phytate, high Fe, and high carotenoid concentration with improved FeBIO in pea seeds to improve Fe nutrition of foods.

Extraction and encapuslation of bioactive compounds from carrots

Carrot is an important root vegetable rich in bioactive compounds like carotenoids and polyphenols with appreciable levels of several other functional components having significant health-promoting properties. Utilization of carotenoids is limited due to their instability. Encapsulation is one of the alternatives used to improve carotenoid stability. The objectives of this study were to optimize the extraction and encapsulation of carotenoids from carrot. Freeze-dried carrots were extracted by conventional solvent extraction (CSE) using four solvents, i.e. ethanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, and hexane. Although CSE using hexane and ethyl acetate resulted in highest carotenoid contents (18.27 and 15.73 mg ?-carotene/100 g), acetone and ethanol at a solid to solvent ratio 1:10 w/v with slightly lower carotenoid contents (14.52 and 11.45 mg ?-carotene/100 g) were chosen for further studies due to their higher food compatibility and higher polyphenol content (88.86 and 66.21 mg GAE/100 g) than with lower solid to solvent ratio (1:5 w/v). Ethanol and acetone carrot extracts were encapsulated using different carriers by a freeze-drying method in order to obtain the optimum encapsulate with the highest carotenoid encapsulation efficiency (EE). Encapsulation using the maltodextrin, whey and soy protein as a wall material yielded an EE of carotenoids ranging from 41.95% to 100%. The encapsulated ?-carotene content was evaluated during two months of storage at ambient temperature under light and dark conditions. Generally, the retention of carotenoids was significantly higher in dark conditions, where maximum retention (65.94-87.32%) occurred in the samples encapsulated in maltodextrin and soy protein.

Carotenoid and flavonoid profile and antioxidant activity in “Pomodorino Vesuviano” tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most widely consumed vegetables in the Mediterranean Diet. They are a rich source of antioxidant compounds and their consumption is linked with a reduction of various types of pathologies. In addition to geographical and seasonal variables, cultivar is an important factor affecting the profile and the concentration of antioxidant compounds. “Pomodorino Vesuviano” is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) tomato cultivar traditionally grown in Campania (southern Italy), which to the best of our knowledge has never been analyzed for bioactive compounds before. Here we present a study conducted to investigate the carotenoid and flavonoid content in tomatoes from this cultivar. Results indicate that Pomodorino Vesuviano is a rich source of antioxidants, with lycopene (78.6mg/kg fresh weight (fw)) and quercetin (8.52mg/kg fw) are the major components. Moreover, cell-based studies have suggested that a synergistic effect among phytochemicals in tomatoes is responsible for their antioxidant activity, since the combination of low concentrations of carotenoids and polyphenols (i.e. per se inactive concentrations) resulted in a significant reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. .

Exploring the selectivity of supercritical CO2 to obtain nonpolar fractions of passion fruit bagasse extracts

The contents of tocols, unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids make the passion fruit bagasse an interesting source for extraction. In this study the selectivity of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC–CO2) as solvent was explored to obtain extract fractions concentrated in such compounds from passion fruit bagasse. The study was divided into two stages. The first stage identified the conditions of temperature and pressure that achieved extracts with different chemical compositions. In the second stage, such conditions were applied in a sequential supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process composed by three steps (60°C and 17MPa; 50°C and 17MPa; e 60°C and 26MPa). Only the first step recovered tocols, the second step extracted fatty acids without tocols and low carotenoid content, and the third step concentrated carotenoids. The sequential SFE process achieved extracts 1.5 and 5.8 times more concentrated in tocols and carotenoids, respectively, than the single-stage condition that achieved bigger global yield (40°C, 35MPa).

Pretreatment serum xanthophyll concentrations as predictors of head and neck cancer recurrence and survival.

The purpose of this study was to examine associations of pretreatment serum carotenoids, tocopherols, and quercetin with prognosis in 154 patients newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Pretreatment blood and health surveys were collected. Serum micronutrients were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Data on recurrence and death were collected annually. Cox proportional hazards models measured associations of serum nutrient concentrations with recurrence and overall survival. During a median follow-up time of 37 months, there were 32 recurrences and 27 deaths. After controlling for covariates, subjects with high versus low serum xanthophyll and total carotenoid concentrations had significantly longer recurrence-free time (p = .002 and p = .02, respectively). Overall survival time was significantly longer in patients with high versus low serum xanthophyll concentrations (p = .02). Future research should evaluate the possible benefits of interventions to increase intakes of rich food sources of xanthophylls in this patient population. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1591-E1597, 2016.

Inflammation mediates the association between fatty acid intake and depression in older men and women

Antioxidants and fatty acids are associated with depression and inflammation, and inflammation appears to predict depression risk; hence, the associations between these nutrients and depression may be mediated by inflammation. We hypothesized that inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) mediate the associations between antioxidant and fatty acid intakes, and depression. Participants were from the Hunter Community Study, a longitudinal cohort of adults aged 55-85 years. Dietary intake was assessed using the Older Australian’s Food Frequency Questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were drawn for analysis of nutrient and inflammatory biomarkers. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression scale at baseline and at 5-year follow-up. Linear mixed models were used to investigate longitudinal associations between dietary intakes and depression, and mediation analyses were carried out to determine if IL-6 and/or CRP were the mediators. Analyses were conducted on men and women separately and adjusted for potential confounders. Fruit and monounsaturated fat intakes were negatively associated with depression, whereas total fat and saturated fat intakes were positively associated with depression in both sexes. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fat was inversely associated with depression in men only. IL-6 was a significant mediator of the association between fruits with low carotenoid content and depression in women. CRP significantly mediated the relationship between total fat, saturated fat, and monounsaturated fat intakes and depression in women, and saturated fat intake and depression in men. Our findings raise the possibility that the association between fatty acid intake and depression is partially mediated by inflammatory markers.

Age-Related Relationships between Innate Immunity and Plasma Carotenoids in an Obligate Avian Scavenger.

Variation in immunity is influenced by allocation trade-offs that are expected to change between age-classes as a result of the different environmental and physiological conditions that individuals encounter over their lifetime. One such trade-off occurs with carotenoids, which must be acquired with food and are involved in a variety of physiological functions. Nonetheless, relationships between immunity and carotenoids in species where these micronutrients are scarce due to diet are poorly studied. Among birds, vultures show the lowest concentrations of plasma carotenoids due to a diet based on carrion. Here, we investigated variations in the relationships between innate immunity (hemagglutination by natural antibodies and hemolysis by complement proteins), pathogen infection and plasma carotenoids in nestling and adult griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in the wild. Nestlings showed lower hemolysis, higher total carotenoid concentration and higher pathogen infection than adults. Hemolysis was negatively related to carotenoid concentration only in nestlings. A differential carotenoid allocation to immunity due to the incomplete development of the immune system of nestlings compared with adults is suggested linked to, or regardless of, potential differences in parasite infection, which requires experimental testing. We also found that individuals with more severe pathogen infections showed lower hemagglutination than those with a lower intensity infection irrespective of their age and carotenoid level. These results are consistent with the idea that intraspecific relationships between innate immunity and carotenoids may change across ontogeny, even in species lacking carotenoid-based coloration. Thus, even low concentrations of plasma carotenoids due to a scavenger diet can be essential to the development and activation of the immune system in growing birds.

Interspecific hybridization in Cucumis leads to the divergence of phenotypes in response to low light and extended photoperiods.

With the aim of improving shade tolerance of cucumber, Cucumis × hytivus, a newly synthesized allotetraploid, was obtained by crossing a shade tolerant wild relative, Cucumis hystrix, with a cultivated cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. ‘BejingJietou.’ The results show that the new C. × hytivus only partly is an intermediate hybrid and it has not only chlorophyll deficiency, which recovers during leaf development, but also lower carotenoid content. Three light conditions with the combination of different light intensities and photoperiods were employed to investigate the photosynthetic response of these three Cucumis species to low light and long photoperiod. The consistent order of Pmax and DWS being lowest in C. hystrix, medium in C. × hytivus and highest in ‘BejingJietou’ suggests the three species to have genetically different photosynthetic efficiency, which relates well with the natural habitats of the parent species and the hybrid as intermediate. C. × hytivus appears to be inhibited by the low light levels to the same extent as the cultivated ‘BeijingJietou,’ which indicates neither improvement of shade tolerance nor hypothetical heterosis effect in C. × hytivus. However, unexpectedly, the PSII of C. hystrix was affected by the long photoperiod in the long term, suggested by the decrease of Fv/Fm. This sensitivity toward day length has not been passed on to C. × hytivus.

Exploring the diversity in Citrus fruit colouration to decipher the relationship between plastid ultrastructure and carotenoid composition

Differentiation of new and characteristic plastid ultrastructures during ripening of citrus fruits in both peel and pulp appears to be strongly correlated with the content and complement of carotenoids. Most of the species of the Citrus genus display a wide range in fruit colouration due to differences in carotenoids; however, how this diversity is related and may contribute to plastid differentiation and ultrastructure is currently unknown. To that end, carotenoid profile and plastid ultrastructure were compared in peel and pulp of three sweet oranges: the ordinary orange-coloured Navel, rich in β,β-xanthophylls, the yellow Pinalate mutant with an elevated content of colourless carotenes and reduced β,β-xanthophylls, and the red-fleshed Cara Cara with high concentration of colourless carotenes and lycopene in the pulp; and two grapefruits: the white Marsh, with low carotenoid content, and the red Star Ruby, accumulating upstream carotenes and lycopene. The most remarkable differences in plastid ultrastructure among varieties were detected in the pulp at full colour, coinciding with major differences in carotenoid composition. Accumulation of lycopene in Cara Cara and Star Ruby pulp was associated with the presence of needle-like crystals in the plastids, while high content of upstream carotenes in Pinalate pulp was related to the development of a novel plastid type with numerous even and round vesicles. The presence of plastoglobuli was linked to phytoene and xanthophyll accumulation, suggesting these structures as the main sites for the accumulation of these pigments. Peel chromoplasts were richer in membranes compared to pulp chromoplasts, reflecting their different biogenesis. In summary, differences in carotenoid composition and accumulation of unusual carotenoids are mirrored by the development of diverse and novel chromoplast types, revealing the plasticity of these organelles to rearrange carotenoids inside different structures to allow massive accumulation and thus contributing to the chemical stability of the carotenoids.

Carotenoids and volatile profiles of yellow- and red-fleshed papaya fruit in relation to the expression of carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase genes

Fruit of two different papaya cultivars (‘Sui huang’, yellow flesh, and ‘Sui hong’, red flesh) were characterized in terms of carotenoid and volatile profiles throughout storage at 25°C. The results showed that ‘Sui huang’ cultivar exhibited significantly lower carotenoid contents than ‘Sui hong’, which accounted for the different color characteristic. The analyses of HPLC coupled to mass spectrometry showed that zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and and β-carotene were identified as the most abundant carotenoids in ‘Sui huang’ fruit while the most abundant carotenoids were lycopene, followed by β-carotene, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxant hin in ‘Sui hong’ fruit. The high expression of carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase gene (CpCCD1) in ‘Sui hong’ papaya fruit might stimulate the degradation of β-carotene and lycopene and then form the specific volatiles of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and β-ionone.

Carotenoids in cereals: an ancient resource with present and future applications

Cereals are considered to be a major source of carbohydrates and proteins as well as minor micronutrients such as minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, including carotenoids. Carotenoids are natural lipophilic pigments biosynthesized mainly by plants, and certain bacteria and fungi. Cereals, although having a low carotenoid content when compared with the majority of fruits and vegetables, may have an important impact in the nutritional status of consumers. The daily consumption of cereals, and products derived from them, by a large part of the population, especially in under-developed and developing countries, makes cereals a contributor of carotenoids which should not be overlooked and must be taken into consideration in biofortification strategies. In the present manuscript, we revise the existing information about the composition and distribution of carotenoids in cereals, highlighting factors which alter their profile, such as domestication of wild varieties, genotype, storage, milling and processing techniques. Strategies for stimulating the carotenoid content in cereals, either by means of traditional breeding methods or by genetic manipulation, are also discussed.

Identification, cloning, and expression analysis of three phytoene synthase genes from Cucurbita pepo

An essential step in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway is the formation of phytoene by phytoene synthase (PSY). In this study, three new genes coding PSYs (CpPSYA, CpPSYB, and CpPSYC) were cloned from Cucurbita pepo and their expression patterns analysed in three cultivars of summer squash which had a different carotenoid content. The gene sequences had a high similarity with those from other plant species, and their predicted proteins were significantly different from each other. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that CpPSYA and CpPSYB shared a high homology and were also homologous with PSYs from others cucurbits, whereas CpPSYC was more closely related to orthologues from strawberry and carrot. An expression analysis revealed that CpPSYA had a higher expression in flowers compared to leaves and showed a differential expression during fruit development. The amount of CpPSYA transcript was higher in fruits with a higher carotenoid content than in those with a lower carotenoid content. However, CpPSYB and CpPSYC showed a relatively high expression in leaves, and their expression in fruits varied among the different cultivars and fruit tissues. These results suggest that the CpPSY genes were under different regulatory mechanisms and they may have different roles in C. pepo.

Exploratory behavior is associated with plasma carotenoid accumulation in two congeneric species of waterfowl

Recently, carotenoid pigments have received considerable attention as modulators of animal health and performance. While studies show that elevated carotenoid intake and accumulation can influence activities like parental care and escape-flight performance, little is known of how carotenoid status influences the expression of animal personality traits, which can be energy-demanding and entail survival costs but also rewarding in the context of foraging and mating. We experimentally investigated the effects of carotenoid availability on exploratory behavior and activity level, using adult males and females of two species of waterfowl: mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and northern pintail (Anas acuta). We assessed behavior using a novel-environment test designed to measure an individual’s response to novel objects and a potential predator threat (fox urine scent). We found that carotenoid availability was positively associated with some aspects of exploratory behavior: birds with higher concentrations of circulating carotenoids entered the test arena sooner and approached and entered predator-scented bedding material more frequently than birds with low carotenoid concentrations. These results suggest that the availability of carotenoid resources can influence personality traits in waterfowl, and we discuss putative physiological mechanisms underlying this effect.

Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, antioxidant levels and behavioral development of children ages 6–9

PurposePrenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure has been shown to increase DNA adduct levels and to affect neurodevelopment. Micronutrients may modify the adverse effect of PAH on neurodevelopment. Thus, we examined if micronutrient concentrations modified the association between PAH exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Methods151 children from a birth cohort who had micronutrient concentrations measured in cord blood and completed the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL), between the ages of 6 and 9 years, were evaluated. Prenatal airborne PAH exposure was measured by personal air monitoring. The betas and 95% CI for the associations of antioxidant concentrations and PAH exposure with each of the outcomes of CBCL raw score and dichotomized standardized T-score (based on clinical cutpoints) were estimated, respectively, by multivariable poisson and logistic models. ResultsChildren below the median for alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol concentrations, compared to those above, were more likely to have thought problems, aggressive behavior and externalizing problems (p<0.05). Lower carotenoid concentration was associated with more thought problems (MVβ=0.60, p<0.001) and externalizing problems (MVβ=0.13, p<0.05) for the same contrast. No statistically significant associations were observed between retinol concentrations and neurodevelopmental symptoms. Overall, no consistent patterns were observed when we examined the interaction between antioxidants (e.g., alpha-tocopherol) and PAH in relation to CBCL symptoms (e.g., internalizing and externalizing problems, p<0.05). ConclusionsLower alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and carotenoid levels may adversely affect healthy neurodevelopment, even after accounting for PAH exposure. Future research to confirm these findings are warranted given the importance of identifying modifiable factors for reducing harmful PAH effects.

The anti-cancer effects of carotenoids and other phytonutrients resides in their combined activity

Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is strongly associated with reduced risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cancer. It is now accepted that the actions of any specific phytonutrient alone do not explain the observed health benefits of diets rich in fruits and vegetables as nutrients that were taken alone in clinical trials did not show consistent preventive effects. The considerable cost and complexity of such clinical trials requires prudent selection of combinations of ingredients rather than single compounds. Indeed, synergistic inhibition of prostate and mammary cancer cell growth was evident when using combinations of low concentrations of various carotenoids or carotenoids with retinoic acid and the active metabolite of vitamin-D. In this study we aimed to develop simple and sensitive in vitro methods which provide information on potent combinations suitable for inclusion in clinical studies for cancer prevention. We, thus, used reporter gene assays of the transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor in hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells and of the electrophile/antioxidant response element (EpRE/ARE) transcription system. We found that combinations of several carotenoids (e.g., lycopene, phytoene and phytofluene), or carotenoids and polyphenols (e.g., carnosic acid and curcumin) and/or other compounds (e.g., vitamin E) synergistically inhibit the androgen receptor activity and activate the EpRE/ARE system. The activation of EpRE/ARE was up to four fold higher than the sum of the activities of the single ingredients, a robust hallmark of synergy. Such combinations can further be tested in the more complex in vivo models and human studies.

Low skin carotenoid concentration measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy is associated with metabolic syndrome in adults

Oxidative stress is increased in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Antioxidants, including carotenoids, are decreased in MS. We hypothesized that a low skin carotenoid score (SCS), calculated using resonance Raman spectroscopy, would correlate with the presence of MS. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients referred for dietary assessment between 2010 and 2012. For each patient, a nutrition history, medical history, and SCS were recorded. χ2 and Student t test were used to determine factors associated with MS. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with MS. One hundred fifty-five patients were included. The mean age was 54.1 ± 13.1 years, and the mean body mass index was 28.3 ± 6.1 kg/m2. Metabolic syndrome was present in 43.9% of patients. The mean SCS was 28 084 ± 14 006 Raman counts (RC), including 23 058 ± 9812 RC for patients with MS and 32 011 ± 15 514 RC for patients without MS (P = .0001). In a multivariate analysis, SCS less than 25 000 RC (odds ratio, 3.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-10.7; P = .01) was independently associated with MS. A higher number of MS components was associated with a progressively lower SCS (P = .004). In a consecutive sample of patients referred for dietary assessment, a noninvasively measured SCS was lower among patients with MS.

Use of photochemiluminescence for the determination of antioxidant activities of carotenoids and antioxidant capacities of selected tomato products.

The purpose of this study was to compare the antioxidant activity of carotenoids to that of α-tocopherol by using a photochemiluminescence method (PCL). Comparisons to results obtained by using other established methods (α-TEAC, FRAP, DPPH, LPSC) were carried out. A relationship between the chemical structure of carotenoids and their antioxidant activity could be discussed. The number of conjugated double bonds and functional groups had a positive influence. Additionally, the lipophilic antioxidant capacities of selected tomato products were analyzed using PCL and α-TEAC. HPLC was used to identify and quantify contents of carotenoids, tocopherols, and tocotrienols. The raw material fresh tomatoes had the lowest antioxidant effect in both assays due to the lower carotenoid content. Tomato ketchup had the highest AOC in PCL, and tomato puree, in α-TEAC. The antioxidant capacities were mainly dependent on the water content of the samples. Furthermore, a concentration-dependent effect could be observed in both assays.

Comparison of carotenoid accumulation and biosynthetic gene expression between Valencia and Rohde Red Valencia sweet oranges

Carotenoid accumulation and biosynthetic gene expression levels during fruit maturation were compared between ordinary Valencia (VAL) and its more deeply colored mutant Rohde Red Valencia orange (RRV). The two cultivars exhibited different carotenoid profiles and regulatory mechanisms in flavedo and juice sacs, respectively. In flavedo, there was uncoordinated carotenoid accumulation and gene expression in RRV during green stages, which might be related to the expression of certain gene(s) in the MEP (methylerythritol phosphate) pathway. The carotenoid biosynthesis pathway shifting from α,β-xanthophylls to β,β-xanthophylls synthesis occurred in RRV earlier than VAL during orange stages. In juice sacs, the low carotenoid content in both cultivars coincided with low expression of LCYE-Contig03 and LCYE-Contig24 during green stages, suggesting LCYE might be a limiting step for carotenoid accumulation. VAL mainly accumulated violaxanthin, but RRV accumulated β-cryptoxanthin and violaxanthin during orange stages, which corresponded to differences in juice color. Several upstream genes (PDS-Contig17, LCYB-Contig19, and ZDS members) and a downstream gene (ZEP) were expressed at higher levels in RRV than VAL, which might be responsible for greater accumulation of β-cryptoxanthin and violaxanthin in RRV, respectively.

Carotenoid content of wild edible young shoots traditionally consumed in Spain (Asparagus acutifolius L., Humulus lupulus L., Bryonia dioica Jacq. and Tamus communis L.)

Carotenoid content of wild edible young shoots traditionally consumed in Spain (<i>Asparagus acutifolius</i> L., <i>Humulus lupulus</i> L., <i>Bryonia dioica</i> Jacq. and <i>Tamus communis</i> L.)