Natural Source Of Β-carotene Research Articles

Food-to-Food Fortification of a Traditional Pearl Millet Gruel with a Natural Source of β-Carotene (Sweet Potato) Improves the Bioaccessibility of Iron and Zinc

Iron and zinc deficiencies are still a major public health concern in the Far North Region of Cameroon where staple foods are mainly mineral rich cereals which equally contain inhibitors of their bioaccessibility. The effect of food-to-food fortification of a traditional pearl millet gruel with a natural source of β-carotene on the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc was assessed. A sensory evaluation of gruels fortified at 20, 30, and 40% with mashed sweet potato was carried out. The samples were analysed for carotenoids, phytates, polyphenols, iron, and zinc contents. Bioaccessible iron and zinc were evaluated using in vitro digestion method. The gruel fortified at 20% with mashed sweet potato had better scores ( P < 0.05) of taste (3.93), colour (3.36), and overall acceptability (3.80) compared to the control. Carotenoid, polyphenol, and phytate contents were higher in fortified gruels ( P < 0.05) compared to the control, while iron and zinc contents were lower. A significant increase ( P < 0.05) in bioaccessibility of 8.08% and 26.96% for iron and 53.79% and 62.92% for zinc was observed at 20 and 30% incorporation level, respectively. However, at 40% incorporation level, the increase in bioaccessible iron was less important and bioaccessible zinc decreased. Mashed sweet potato can be used as a fortificant to improve the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc contents of local pearl millet gruel, if added moderately.

Review of literature: carotenoids, chemical composition and dietary reference intake of buriti fruits

Although fruits and vegetables, sources of carotenoids, are widely available in Brazil, hypovitaminosis A constitutes a serious public health problem. There is lack of information available to the population about the dietary sources of carotenoids and factors affecting their bioavailability. The carotenoids also known as bioactive compounds have been associated with the reduction of the risk for degenerative diseases, such as cancer (modulators of immunological responses), cardiovascular diseases, macular degeneration and cataract. In Brazil the utilization of buriti fruit is not widespread; it is consumed only by the local population of some parts of the North and Central regions. Among those foods, out the foods of buritizeiro, the buriti has the highest content of β-carotene among the numerous foods already analyzed, as well as a source of oleic fatty acid, similar to olive oil. The buriti fruit provides the needs of DRIʼs (Dietary Reference Intake) of vitamin A for adult, being a good source of nutrition, knowing the variety of foods that composes a balanced diet. Also, the buriti fruit is a natural source of β-carotene (provitamin A). Also, it has antioxidant power by having carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamin C compared to other vegetables, can be considered a functional food.

Organic solvent-free extraction of carotenoids from carrot bio-waste and its physico-chemical properties

The bio-wastes (like peels, seeds, etc.) from food industry are rich source of bio-active components, but are poorly managed. In present study, carotenoids were extracted from carrot pomace using ultrasonication and high shear dispersion techniques and flaxseed oil as green solvent (green biorefinery approach). Various combinations of time and temperature were used and final selection was made on the basis of maximum recovery of carotenoids. High shear disperser yielded maximum carotenoids (recovery 94.8 ± 0.08%). The total carotenoid content, antioxidant activity as ABTS, DDPH and FRAP and β-carotene of carotenoid rich extract from carrot pomace (CREP) were 82.66 ± 0.06μg/g, 1596.04 ± 69.45μg Trolox eq./ml, 380.21 ± 39.62μg Trolox eq./ml, 941.20 ± 19.91μM Trolox eq./ml, 78.37μg/g, respectively were significantly higher (p < 0.05) when compared with the extracting medium. The L*, a* and b* values of CRE were 18.65 ± 0.037, 19.42 ± 0.21, 27.947 ± 0.65 and were significantly higher than extracting medium. The CRE could be used as a natural source of β-carotene and natural colorant for food applications.

β-Carotene production promoted by ethylene in Blakeslea trispora and the mechanism involved in metabolic responses

Abstract Blakeslea trispora is commercially used as natural source of β-carotene in industry. We found that ethylene treatment (ET) can promote the production of β-carotene in B. trispora by 52 ± 0.20%, reaching 1.87 ± 0.11 g/L. However, the metabolic responses to ethylene in B. trispora are not fully understood. In this work, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach and two-dimensional electrophoresis-based proteomics approach by MALDI-TOF/TOF were employed to gain a better understanding of its metabolisms. We found that 31 metabolites and 9 proteins were directly related to the enhancement of β-carotene production in combination with the partial least-squares-discriminant analysis and two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis. Those metabolites and proteins were involved in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and mevalonate pathway. Our results show that ethylene causes the decrease of TCA flux and the accumulation of acetyl-CoA, which contributes to the enhancement of β-carotene production. As responses to ethylene, transcription of key genes involved in mevalonate pathway (including hmgR , ipi , carG , carRA and carB ) was induced by ethylene, resulting in the enhancement of β-carotene production.

Cysted Forms of Halophilic Microalga Dunaliella salina under Different Stress Conditions

Dunaliella salina is a chlorophycean, cell wall-less microalga ubiquitous in solar salterns worldwide. It is commercially exploited as a source of natural β-carotene with a high proportion of bioabsorbable isomer of the pigment.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Synthetic and Natural-Carotene on Survival, Growth and Pigmentation in Freshwater Ornamental Koi (Cyprinus carpio L.) Carp

An experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of synthetic and natural β-carotene (through dried carrot powder) incorporated @ 25 and 50 ppm each with respect to survival, growth and pigmentation in freshwater ornamental koi (Cyprinus carpio L.) carp fish for 90 days. Five diets were prepared including control (D1) without carotenoid source and four others supplemented with 25 (D2) and 50 ppm (D3) of synthetic β-carotene and 25 (D4) and 50 ppm (D5) of natural β-carotene, respectively. Fish growth in term of NWG (g), % NWG, PER, SGR and condition factor was maximum in group D4 (2.66, 92.00, 0.09, 0.71 and 1.60) and minimum in group D5 (0.90, 31.6, 0.05, 0.29 and 1.14). Colouration studies indicated higher (P<0.05) total skin and muscle carotenoid (μg/g wet weight basis) content in group D (2.23)4 followed by D5 (1.78), D3 (1.62), D2 (0.91) and D1 (0.57). The study revealed that 7.6% of dried carrot powder as a source of natural β-carotene (@ 25 ppm) could be incorporated in diet of ornamental koi (C. carpio L.) both as growth promoter and colour enhancer for better commercial value.

Review of literature: carotenoids, chemical composition and dietary reference intake of buriti fruits

ABSTRACTAlthough fruits and vegetables, sources of carotenoids, are widely available in Brazil, hypovitaminosis A constitutes a serious public health problem. There is lack of information available to the population about the dietary sources of carotenoids and factors affecting their bioavailability.The carotenoids also known as bioactive compounds have been associated with the reduction of the risk for degenerative diseases, such as cancer (modulators of immunological responses), cardiovascular diseases, macular degeneration and cataract.In Brazil the utilization of buriti fruit is not widespread; it is consumed only by the local population of some parts of the North and Central regions. Among those foods, out the foods of buritizeiro, the buriti has the highest content of β-carotene among the numerous foods already analyzed, as well as a source of oleic fatty acid, similar to olive oil.The buriti fruit provides the needs of DRI.s (Dietary Reference Intake) of vitamin A for adult, being a good source of nutrition, knowing the variety of foods that composes a balanced diet. Also, the buriti fruit is a natural source of β-carotene (provitamin A). Also, it has antioxidant power by having carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamin C compared to other vegetables, can be considered a functional food.

Investigation of beta-carotene production from microalgae Dunaliella isolated in Vietnam

Beta-carotene is known as one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants. It is also a major pro-vitamin A nutrient, and simulative effects on the immune system. Nowadays, the microalga Dunaliella is the best commercial source of natural β-carotene since it has a mixture composed mainly of 9-cis isomer which is evident is a better antioxidant than the all-trans isomer. In addition, synthetic β-carotene only contains the all-trans isomer, natural (all-trans) beta-carotene is found together with other carotenoids. In this study, we chose the microalga Dunaliella sp. which is isolated at salter in Vietnam since it could grow more easily in this climate. Therefore, it has a great potential for large-scale culture in Vietnam coast. The research aims at investigating the optimization of cultural conditions and stresses depth for cell growth and β-carotene production of this alga. The obtained results showed that the highest cell density was attained at 2M salt concentration with 2.7 ×106 cell/ml and productivity of dry biomass was 0.321g/l. Furthermore, β-carotene content increased to 9% of dry biomass under high salinities (NaCl 3M) or nitrogen starvation of cultural condition.

Prevention of Atherosclerosis Progression by 9-cis-β-Carotene Rich AlgaDunaliellain apoE-Deficient Mice

Introduction. β-Carotene-rich diet has been shown to be inversely associated with the risk of coronary heart disease. However, clinical trials using synthetic all-trans-β-carotene failed to demonstrate a beneficial effect. We therefore sought to study the effect of natural source of β-carotene, the alga Dunaliella, containing both all-trans and 9-cis-β-carotene on atherosclerosis. In a previous study we showed that 9-cis-β-carotene-rich powder of the alga Dunaliella inhibits early atherogenesis in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice. Aims. The aims of the current work were to study whether diet enriched with Dunaliella powder would inhibit the progression of established atherosclerosis in old male apoE-deficient mice and to compare the effect of Dunaliella on lipid profile and atherosclerosis in a low-versus high-fat diet fed mice. Methods. In the first experiment, young mice (12 weeks old) were allocated into 3 groups: (1) low-fat diet; (2) low-fat diet + Dunaliella powder (8%); (3) low-fat diet + β-carotene-deficient Dunaliella. In the second experiment, old mice (7 months old) with established atherosclerotic lesions were allocated into 4 groups: (1) low-fat diet; (2) low-fat diet + Dunaliella; (3) high fat-diet; (4) high-fat diet + Dunaliella. Results. In young mice fed a low-fat diet, a trend toward lower atherosclerotic lesion area in the aortic sinus was found in the Dunaliella group compared with the control group. In old mice with established atherosclerotic lesion, Dunaliella inhibited significantly plasma cholesterol elevation and atherosclerosis progression in mice fed a high-fat diet. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that a diet containing natural carotenoids, rich in 9-cis-β-carotene, has the potential to inhibit atherosclerosis progression, particularly in high-fat diet regime.

Isomerisation kinetics and antioxidant activities of β-carotene in carrots undergoing different drying techniques and conditions

Carrots are known as a natural source of β-carotene. In order to preserve the latter, carrots must generally be processed, and drying is one of the most common methods for processing carrots. During drying β-carotene in carrots suffers degradation. β-Carotene degradation is generally due to thermal degradation and isomerisation. In this work, the drying kinetics as well as the isomerisation kinetics and antioxidant activities of β-carotene in carrots undergoing hot air drying, vacuum drying and low-pressure superheated steam drying (LPSSD) were determined within the temperature range of 60–80 °C and, in the case of vacuum drying and LPSSD, at a pressure of 7 kPa. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to determine the β-carotene contents and its isomerisation kinetics, while the antioxidant activities of various combinations of all- trans- and cis-forms of β-carotene in carrots were evaluated using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay.

Genetic variation among seven strains of Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyta) with industrial potential, based on RAPD banding patterns and on nuclear ITS rDNA sequences

Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyta) is a halophilic microalga cultivated as a natural source of β-carotene in several countries, including Chile. Previous studies of some Chilean strains of this microalga have shown a great variability in their physiological and genetic attributes. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) band patterns and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1 and ITS-2) sequences were used to genotypically characterize three Chilean and four foreign (from Mexico, China, Australia and Israel) strains of D. salina with industrial potential. Unweighted pair group mean average (UPGMA) cluster analysis of RAPD data distinguished, at 70% similarity, two clusters. One cluster included all of the foreign strains, except the one from Australia, and the other grouped two of the Chilean strains (CONC-001 and CONC-007). The other Chilean strain (CONC-006) and the Australian strain appeared as single entities. Neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses of the ITS sequence data yielded four clades, most of them well supported: there were two clades containing exclusively one strain, CONC-006 from Chile (86–94% support) and the one from Australia (98–100% support); the third clade grouped the strains from Mexico, China and Israel (99–100% support), and, the fourth clade, the strains CONC-001 and CONC-007 from Chile (100% support). Both RAPD banding pattern and ITS sequence data were consistent in resolving the same genetic relatedness among the strains analyzed. For both approaches, the strain CONC-006 from Chile and the strain from Australia were the most divergent entities within the group. Furthermore, the strain CONC-006 appeared genetically more related to the foreign strains than to the other Chilean ones. The physiological attributes exhibited by these strains of D. salina are mostly in agreement with the genetic relationships deduced from this study.