MyMedR

Fulltext β-Carotene Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Aortic Aneurysm by Alleviating Macrophage Recruitment in Apoe(-/-) Mice

Gopal K, Nagarajan P, Jedy J, Raj AT, Gnanaselvi SK, Jahan P, et al.

PLoS One, 2013;8(6):e67098.

PMID: 23826202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067098

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common chronic degenerative disease characterized by progressive aortic dilation and rupture. The mechanisms underlying the role of α-tocopherol and β-carotene on AAA have not been comprehensively assessed. We investigated if α-tocopherol and β-carotene supplementation could attenuate AAA, and studied the underlying mechanisms utilized by the antioxidants to alleviate AAA. Four-months-old Apoe(-/-) mice were used in the induction of aneurysm by infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II), and were orally administered with α-tocopherol and β-carotene enriched diet for 60 days. Significant increase of LDL, cholesterol, triglycerides and circulating inflammatory cells was observed in the Ang II-treated animals, and gene expression studies showed that ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MCP-1, M-CSF, MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-12 were upregulated in the aorta of aneurysm-induced mice. Extensive plaques, aneurysm and diffusion of inflammatory cells into the tunica intima were also noticed. The size of aorta was significantly (P = 0.0002) increased (2.24±0.20 mm) in the aneurysm-induced animals as compared to control mice (1.17±0.06 mm). Interestingly, β-carotene dramatically controlled the diffusion of macrophages into the aortic tunica intima, and circulation. It also dissolved the formation of atheromatous plaque. Further, β-carotene significantly decreased the aortic diameter (1.33±0.12 mm) in the aneurysm-induced mice (β-carotene, P = 0.0002). It also downregulated ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MCP-1, M-CSF, MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-12, PPAR-α and PPAR-γ following treatment. Hence, dietary supplementation of β-carotene may have a protective function against Ang II-induced AAA by ameliorating macrophage recruitment in Apoe(-/-) mice.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene/administration & dosage*

W/O high internal phase emulsion featuring by interfacial crystallization of diacylglycerol and different internal compositions

Liu Y, Lee WJ, Tan CP, Lai OM, Wang Y, Qiu C

Food Chem, 2022 Mar 15;372:131305.

PMID: 34653777 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131305

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) show promising application in food and cosmetic industries. In this work, diacylglycerol (DAG) was applied to fabricate water-in-oil (W/O) HIPEs. DAG-based emulsion can hold 60% water and the emulsion rigidity increased with water content, indicating the water droplets acted as "active fillers". Stable HIPE with 80% water fraction was formed through the combination of 6 wt% DAG with 1 wt% polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR). The addition of 1 w% kappa (κ)-carrageenan and 0.5 M NaCl greatly reduced the droplet size and enhanced emulsion rigidity, and the interfacial tension of the internal phase was reduced. Benefiting from the Pickering crystals-stabilized interface by DAG as revealed by the microscopy and enhanced elastic modulus of emulsions with the gelation agents, the HIPEs demonstrated good retaining ability for anthocyanin and β-carotene. This study provides insights for the development of W/O HIPEs to fabricate low-calories margarines, spread or cosmetic creams.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Variations des caractéristiques des huiles de palme et notamment de leurs caroténoides

Bienaymé A, Servant M

Qualitas Plantarum et Materiae Vegetabiles, 1958;3-4:336-353.

DOI: 10.1007/BF01884062

During two years the authors have assembled monthly analytical data of oilpalms, from 15 different stations. The determinations spread as far as the French, Portuguese and Spanish territory in Africa and British Malaya also. The following analyses were carried out: iodine number, titer point, melting point and the carotenoids of these oils, according to origine, race and time of gathering. As to iodine number and amount of carotenoid, the race is decisive for these data; the oils from the natural stock of the Ivory Coast have a higher iodine number (57-60). The oils from the natural stock of Togo, Dahomey, Portuguese and French Guinea are richer in carotene (up to 0.16, even 0.19%) with medium iodine number (54-56). The oils from the industrial plantations, with selected trees of the race Dura-Deli, from the Far East as well as from the Ivory Coast, have lower iodine numbers (52-53) and are poor in carotene (0.05). South of the equator in Africa, all analysed races of oil palms had a lower iodine number (53-55) and were poor in carotene (0.05). During one year the amount of carotene fluctuates about one third of its maximum; this maximum is rather striking in Togo and Dahomey; it is to be found from January to May; period of high production of the oil in the Palm groves, e.g. in the dry season with warm climate and good insolation. Heavy rain-showers effect a rapid decrease of the contents of carotene after six weeks (duration of the formation of the fruit). Furthermore, the residual oils (extracted by solvents) were analysed; they are 2 to 3 times richer in carotenoids than the common palm oil; but the contents of β-carotene seems somewhat lower. The authors think it possible to find exactly defined uses for the different oils. © 1958 Uitgeverij Dr. W. Junk.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Valorization of Dacryodes rostrata fruit through the characterization of its oil

Tee LH, Yang B, Tey BT, Chan ES, Azlan A, Ismail A, et al.

Food Chem, 2017 Nov 15;235:257-264.

PMID: 28554634 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.05.021

Dacryodes rostrata (kembayau) is an important food and oil resource for local communities in Borneo, but it is not commonly known to wider community. The objective of this work is to valorize kembayau fruit by evaluating the characteristics of the oil from the fruit. In this study, the physicochemical characteristics and the lipophilic essential nutrient; the fatty acid composition, vitamin E and beta-carotene content of oils obtained from the peel, pulp and seeds of kembayau fruits were studied. The pulp of the kembayau fruit contained highest proportion of oil, followed by peel and seed. Kembayau fruit contained vitamin E and had trace amount of beta-carotene. Besides, kembayau fruit oils were not toxic to BRL3A cells, provided hepatoprotection and reversed lipid peroxidation in paracetamol-induced toxicity. Our results suggest that kembayau can be a potential source for cooking oil as the physicochemical characteristics are comparable with commercial source such as oil palm.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext Tolerance of Tetraselmis tetrathele to High Ammonium Nitrogen and Its Effect on Growth Rate, Carotenoid, and Fatty Acids Productivity

Farahin AW, Natrah I, Nagao N, Yusoff FM, Shariff M, Banerjee S, et al.

Front Bioeng Biotechnol, 2021;9:568776.

PMID: 33585428 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.568776

Microalgae can use either ammonium or nitrate for its growth and vitality. However, at a certain level of concentration, ammonium nitrogen exhibits toxicity which consequently can inhibit microalgae productivity. Therefore, this study is aimed to investigate the tolerance of Tetraselmis tetrathele to high ammonium nitrogen concentrations and its effects on growth rate, photosynthetic efficiency (F
v
/F
m
), pigment contents (chlorophyll a, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene), and fatty acids production. Experiments were performed at different ammonium nitrogen concentrations (0.31-0.87 gL-1) for 6 days under a light source with an intensity of 300 μmol photons m-2 s-1 and nitrate-nitrogen source as the experimental control. The findings indicated no apparent enhancement of photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) at high levels of ammonium nitrogen (

NH

4

+

-N) for T. tetrathele within 24 h. However, after 24 h, the photosynthetic efficiency of T. tetrathele increased significantly (p < 0.05) in high concentration of

NH

4

+

-N. Chlorophyll a content in T. tetrathele grown in all of the different

NH

4

+

-N levels increased significantly compared to nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) treatment (p < 0.05); which supported that this microalgal could grow even in high level of

NH

4

+

-N concentrations. The findings also indicated that T. tetrathele is highly resistant to high ammonium nitrogen which suggests T. tetrathele to be used in the aquaculture industry for bioremediation purpose to remove ammonium nitrogen, thus reducing the production cost while improving the water quality.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext The Development of Expanded Snack Product Made from Pumpkin Flour-Corn Grits: Effect of Extrusion Conditions and Formulations on Physical Characteristics and Microstructure

Nor NM, Carr A, Hardacre A, Brennan CS

Foods, 2013 May 14;2(2):160-169.

PMID: 28239106 DOI: 10.3390/foods2020160

Pumpkin products confer natural sweetness, desirable flavours and β-carotene, a vitamin A precursor when added as ingredients to extruded snacks. Therefore, a potential use for dried pumpkin flour is as an ingredient in ready-to-eat (RTE) snack foods. Growth in this market has driven food manufacturers to produce a variety of new high value snack foods incorporating diverse ingredients to enhance the appearance and nutritional properties of these foods. Ready-to-eat snacks were made by extruding corn grits with 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of pumpkin flour. Snacks made from 100% corn grits were used as control products for this work. The effect of formulation and screw speeds of 250 rpm and 350 rpm on torque and specific mechanical energy (SME, kWh/kg), physical characteristics (expansion ratio, bulk density, true density and hardness) and the microstructure of the snacks were studied. Increasing the screw speed resulted in a decrease of torque for all formulations. When pumpkin flour was added the specific mechanical energy (SME) decreased by approximately 45%. Increasing the percentage of pumpkin flour at the higher screw speed resulted in a harder texture for the extruded products. X-ray tomography of pumpkin flour-corn grit snacks showed that increased levels of pumpkin flour decreased both the bubble area and bubble size. However, no significant differences (p > 0.05) in bubble wall thickness were measured. By understanding the conditions during extrusion, desirable nutritional characteristics can be incorporated while maximizing expansion to make a product with low bulk density, a fine bubble structure and acceptable organoleptic properties.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext Taxon- and Growth Phase-Specific Antioxidant Production by Chlorophyte, Bacillariophyte, and Haptophyte Strains Isolated From Tropical Waters

Rahman NA, Katayama T, Wahid MEA, Kasan NA, Khatoon H, Yamada Y, et al.

Front Bioeng Biotechnol, 2020;8:581628.

PMID: 33330417 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.581628

Antioxidants found in microalgae play an essential role in both animals and humans, against various diseases and aging processes by protecting cells from oxidative damage. In this study, 26 indigenous tropical marine microalgae were screened. Out of the 26 screened strains, 10 were selected and were further investigated for their natural antioxidant compounds which include carotenoids, phenolics, and fatty acids collected in their exponential and stationary phases. The antioxidant capacity was also evaluated by a total of four assays, which include ABTS, DPPH, superoxide radical (O2•-) scavenging capacity, and nitric oxide (•NO-) scavenging capacity. This study revealed that the antioxidant capacity of the microalgae varied between divisions, strains, and growth phase and was also related to the content of antioxidant compounds present in the cells. Carotenoids and phenolics were found to be the major contributors to the antioxidant capacity, followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids linoleic acid (LA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), arachidonic acid (ARA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) compared to other fatty acids. The antioxidant capacity of the selected bacillariophytes and haptophytes was found to be positively correlated to phenolic (R2-value = 0.623, 0.714, and 0.786 with ABTS, DPPH, and •NO-) under exponential phase, and to carotenoid fucoxanthin and β-carotene (R2 value = 0.530, 0.581 with ABTS, and 0.710, 0.795 with O2•-) under stationary phase. Meanwhile, antioxidant capacity of chlorophyte strains was positively correlated with lutein, β-carotene and zeaxanthin under the exponential phase (R2 value = 0.615, 0.615, 0.507 with ABTS, and R2 value = 0.794, 0.659, and 0.509 with •NO-). In the stationary phase, chlorophyte strains were positively correlated with violaxanthin (0.755 with •NO-), neoxanthin (0.623 with DPPH, 0.610 with •NO-), and lutein (0.582 with •NO-). This study showed that antioxidant capacity and related antioxidant compound production of tropical microalgae strains are growth phase-dependent. The results can be used to improve the microalgal antioxidant compound production for application in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and feed industry.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Swelling behaviour and controlled drug release from cross-linked κ-carrageenan/NaCMC hydrogel by diffusion mechanism

Hezaveh H, Muhamad II, Noshadi I, Shu Fen L, Ngadi N

J Microencapsul, 2012;29(4):368-79.

PMID: 22309480 DOI: 10.3109/02652048.2011.651501

We studied a model system of controlled drug release using beta-carotene and κ-carrageenan/NaCMC hydrogel as a drug and a device, respectively. Different concentrations of genipin were added to crosslink the beta-carotene loaded beads by using the dripping method. Results have shown that the cross-linked beads possess lower swelling ability in all pH conditions (pH 1.2 and 7.4), and swelling ratio decreases with increasing genipin concentration. Microstructure study shows that cross-linking has enhanced the stability and structure of the beads network. Determination of diffusion coefficient for the release of encapsulated beta-carotene indicates less diffusivity when beads are cross-linked. Swelling models using adaptive neuro fuzzy show that using genipin as a cross-linker in the kC/NaCMC hydrogels affects the transport mechanism. The model shows very good agreement with the experimental data that indicates that applying ANFIS modelling is an accurate, rapid and simple way to model in such a case for controlled release applications.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene/administration & dosage

Fulltext Supplementation with red palm oil increases β-carotene and vitamin A blood levels in patients with cystic fibrosis

Sommerburg O, De Spirt S, Mattern A, Joachim C, Langhans CD, Nesaretnam K, et al.

Mediators Inflamm, 2015;2015:817127.

PMID: 25688177 DOI: 10.1155/2015/817127

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) show decreased plasma concentrations of antioxidants due to malabsorption of lipid soluble vitamins and consumption by chronic pulmonary inflammation. β-Carotene is a major source of retinol and therefore is of particular significance in CF. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of daily intake of red palm oil (RPO) containing high amounts of β-carotene on the antioxidant levels in CF patients. Sixteen subjects were recruited and instructed to enrich their food with 2 to 3 tablespoons of RPO (~1.5 mg of β-carotene) daily over 8 weeks. Carotenoids, retinol, and α-tocopherol were measured in plasma at baseline and after intervention. In addition β-carotene, lycopene, α-tocopherol, and vitamin C were measured in buccal mucosa cells (BMC) to determine the influence of RPO on antioxidant tissue levels. Eleven subjects completed the study properly. Plasma β-carotene, retinol, and α-carotene of these patients increased, but plasma concentrations of other carotenoids and α-tocopherol as well as concentrations of β-carotene, lycopene, α-tocopherol, and vitamin C in BMC remained unchanged. Since RPO on a daily basis did not show negative side effects the data suggest that RPO may be used to elevate plasma β-carotene in CF.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene/blood*

Storage stability and degradation kinetics of bioactive compounds in red palm oil microcapsules produced with solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical carbon dioxide: A comparison with the spray-drying method

Lee WJ, Tan CP, Sulaiman R, Hee YY, Chong GH

Food Chem, 2020 Jan 30;304:125427.

PMID: 31494501 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125427

Solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical carbon dioxide (SEDS) and spray drying (SD) were used to microencapsulate red palm oil (RPO) to prolong the functionality of carotenes and vitamin E. The protective effects provided by SEDS and SD were evaluated in terms of the oxidative stability (65 °C for 35 days), fatty acid compositions, color change and degradation kinetics of carotenes and vitamin E (25 °C, 45 °C, 65 °C, and 85 °C for up to 198 days). SEDS microcapsules (SEDS-M) were the most oxidatively stable (total oxidation (Totox): 26.5), followed by SD microcapsules (SD-M) (34.9) and RPO (56.7). Degradation of carotenes and vitamin E fitted well a first-order kinetic model (average absolute relative deviation = 2-16%). SEDS-M offered better protection to vitamin E (Ea = 36 kJ/mol), whereas SD-M provided better protection for α + β carotene (Ea = 29 kJ/mol). Overall, encapsulation protected RPO during storage, with SEDS-microencapsulated RPO performing better than SD-microencapsulated RPO.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext Stability of β-carotene in carrot powder and sugar confection as affected by resistant maltodextrin and octenyl succinate anhydride (OSA) starches

Shaaruddin S, Mahmood Z, Ismail H, Mohd Ghazali H, Hamzah MY, Muhammad K

J Food Sci Technol, 2019 Jul;56(7):3461-3470.

PMID: 31274914 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-019-03832-4

Encapsulation has been used to overcome the problem of instability of functional pigments such as carotenoids from natural sources. In this study, β-carotene in carrot juice was spray dried with four different wall materials namely maltodextrin, resistant maltodextrin, octenyl succinate anhydride (OSA) starches Capsul (CAP) and HICAP-100 (HCAP). The objective of this research was to study the effects of various wall materials on physicochemical properties and stability of β-carotene powders along with its stability after incorporation into sugar confection. All four wall materials produced powders of acceptable quality in terms of moisture content, water activity, hygroscopicity, solubility as well as onset glass transition temperature. OSA starches exhibited better pigment retention post spray drying where juices encapsulated with HCAP showed the highest retention (94.34%). This was also represented in more orange Hue values (H°) in powders produced with CAP (53.93) and HCAP (53.33). Powders produced with HCAP also showed the longest half-life after storage at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C, as well as under exposure to light. Similarly, carrot powders produced with OSA starches also exhibited better β-carotene retention after production of hard candy confection. Though candies with HCAP encapsulated juices showed the highest β-carotene retention post candy processing, candies with CAP encapsulated carrot juices exhibited better long term stability after storage at 25 °C and 40 °C as well as under exposure to light.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext Semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for assessment of energy, total fat, fatty acids, and vitamin A, C and E intake among Malaysian women: comparison with three days 24-hour diet recalls

Mohd Razif Shahril, Suhaina Sulaiman, Soraya Hanie Shaharudin, Nurismah Md Isa, Sharifah Noor Akmal Syed Hussain

Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia, 2008;6(2):75-91.

MyJurnal

Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is a practical tool for the measurement of usual food intake in large surveys because it gives a quick approximation to 'true' dietary intake. This study was carried out to compare the semiquantitative FFQ with three day 24-hour diet recalls (24-hr DR) in assessing intake of energy, total fat, fatty acids and vitamin A, C and E among Malaysian women. This semi-quantitative FFQ which was developed specifically for the Malay and Indian ethnicities has 200 food items and categorized according to three mealtimes namely breakfast, lunch or dinner and morning or afternoon snacks. A total of 51 Malay and 28 Indian women aged between 30 to 60 years were selected as study subjects. The result of the study shows that majority of study subjects were within the normal EI/BMR ratio when their energy intake was assessed by semi-quantitative FFQ (70%) and 24-hr DR (74%). However, 10% of study subjects became over-reporters when their intakes were assessed using the semi-quantitative FFQ. Analysis of t-test shows there is no significant difference (p > 0.05) on the mean intake of energy, total fats, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin A, C and E between semi-quantitative FFQ and 24-hr DR. Percent mean differences were also less than 10% for all nutrients included in this study. This indicates that the semi-quantitative FFQ can produce comparable results with 24-hr DR. Energy adjusted correlation coefficient values for all studied nutrients were total fat (r = 0.64, p = 0.02), saturated fatty acids (r = 0.59, p = 0.01), monounsaturated fatty acids (r = 0.52, p = 0.03), polyunsaturated fatty acids (r = 0.57, p = 0.02), vitamin A (r = 0.69, p = 0.01), retinol (r = 0.55, p = 0.01), beta carotene (r = 0.74, p = 0.01), vitamin C (r = 0.64, p = 0.02) and vitamin E (r = 0.69, p = 0.01). Cross-classification for both methods into quartiles of intake resulted in correct classification into the same or adjacent quartile from 82% to 96% of the study subjects. Only 3% of the subjects were grossly misclassified. As a conclusion, this semi-quantitative FFQ gives estimation as good as 24-hr DR for intakes of energy, total fat, fatty acids and vitamin A, C and E among Malaysian women specifically for the Malay and Indian ethnicities. This semi-quantitative FFQ is a useful tool in dietary intake assessment for research use especially for epidemiological study on diet and disease relationship such as cardiovascular, cancer and diabetes.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext Scheme of obtaining β-carotene standard from pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) flesh

Norshazila, S., Irwandi, J., Othman, R., Yumi Zuhanis, H.H.

International Food Research Journal, 2012;19(2):531-535.

MyJurnal

Characterization and quantification of carotenoid compound is complicated, costly and timeconsuming. The accuracy and reliability of the data depend solely on the standard and to High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis but the major constraint is to acquire and to maintain the pure standards. Carotenoid standards are commercially available but they are expensive and are prone to isomerization and oxidation. Thus, the purpose of this study is to establish an analytical method for isolating β-carotene by using open column chromatography (OCC) from pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) to be used as one of the carotenoid standards for determination of total and individual carotenoid. Pumpkin with orange flesh has been chosen due to the non-seasonal nature and its availability all year-round. This study demonstrated that the purity of β-carotene standard; determined by HPLC was ranged from 92.21 to 97.95%. The standard curves with five different concentrations of β-carotene extract from pumpkins in triplicate were constructed by plotting the peak area against the concentration. The coefficient of correlation was 0.9936. Therefore, this study established that pumpkin can be a reliable source of beta-carotene standard as it is cheap and commonly available throughout the year.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext Response surface optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of carotenoids from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) fronds

Ofori-Boateng C, Lee KT

Food Sci Nutr, 2013 05;1(3):209-221.

PMID: 29387349 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.22

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) fronds (OPF) are the most abundant oil palm solid wastes that are generated during oil palm agriculture and harvest. Palm oil and some other palm wastes have been reported to contain high concentrations of carotenoids with vital bioactive properties. However, the extraction and quantification of carotenoids from OPF have not been reported. In this study, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, HPLC-FLD for quantification, and response surface methodology (RSM) for optimization of β-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin from OPF extracts were investigated. The effects of extraction temperature (X1: 30-70°C), extraction time (X2: 10-50 min), and solvent-sample ratio (X3: 10-50 mL/g) on the recovery of β-carotene (Y1), lutein (Y2), and zeaxanthin (Y3) were investigated using three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD) experiment. At a desirability of 1, the optimum extraction conditions for β-carotene (30.14°C, 37.11 min, and 23.18 mL/g), lutein (30.00°C, 39.09 min, and 19.24 mL/g), and zeaxanthin (30.09°C, 36.76 min, and 22.38 mL/g) yielded carotenoid concentrations of 17.95 μg/g dry weight (DW), 261.99 μg/g DW, and 29.99 μg/g DW, respectively.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext Reduction of the acidity and peroxide numbers of tengkawang butter (Shorea stenoptera) using thermal and acid activated bentonites

Darmawan MA, Muhammad BZ, Harahap AFP, Ramadhan MYA, Sahlan M, Haryuni, et al.

Heliyon, 2020 Dec;6(12):e05742.

PMID: 33364505 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05742

Tengkawang fat (Shorea stenoptera), from an indigenous plant of the Kalimantan forest, has excellent potential as an alternative source of vegetable fat because it has a high level of fatty acids composition. Activated natural bentonite can be used as a bleaching agent to improve the quality of tengkawang fat. This research aims to reduce the acidity, peroxide number values and identify the physicochemical properties (fatty acid composition, nutrients, and thermal) of tengkawang butter. Initially, tengkawang samples from Nanga Yen and Sintang were pre-treated using the degumming process with 1% phosphoric acid and the neutralization process with a 1 M NaOH 10% w/w solution. The results show that the acidity (mg NaOH/g) of the tengkawang fat samples was reduced from 11.00 to 3.36 when using bentonite activated at 200 °C. The bentonite activated with 0.5 M HCl reduced the acidity to 3.61. The peroxide number (meq O2/kg) of the tengkawang fat samples was reduced from 9.45 to 4.84 and 3.47 by bleaching with thermal-activated and acid-activated bentonites, respectively. Peroxide value correlates with β-carotene content. The smaller of the β-carotene content, the smaller the peroxide value. The acidity, peroxide number, and iodine number values from tengkawang fat after treatment adhere to the SNI 2903: 2016 standard. The main content of fatty acids in tengkawang fat is palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid. These results show that both products are suitable for the food industry in terms of the acid and peroxide numbers. The application of this research results will assist local people in increasing the economic value of the product from tengkawang plant, which is an indigenous plant from Kalimantan.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext Redirecting Metabolic Flux towards the Mevalonate Pathway for Enhanced β-Carotene Production in M. circinelloides CBS 277.49

Naz T, Nazir Y, Nosheen S, Ullah S, Halim H, Fazili ABA, et al.

Biomed Res Int, 2020;2020:8890269.

PMID: 33457420 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8890269

Carotenoids produced by microbial sources are of industrial and medicinal importance due to their antioxidant and anticancer properties. In the current study, optimization of β-carotene production in M. circinelloides strain 277.49 was achieved using response surface methodology (RSM). Cerulenin and ketoconazole were used to inhibit fatty acids and the sterol biosynthesis pathway, respectively, in order to enhance β-carotene production by diverting metabolic pool towards the mevalonate pathway. All three variables used in screening experiments were found to be significant for the production of β-carotene. The synergistic effect of the C/N ratio, cerulenin, and ketoconazole was further evaluated and optimized for superior β-carotene production using central composite design of RSM. Our results found that the synergistic combination of C/N ratios, cerulenin, and ketoconazole at different concentrations affected the β-carotene productions significantly. The optimal production medium (std. order 11) composed of C/N 25, 10 μg/mL cerulenin, and 150 mg/L ketoconazole, producing maximum β-carotene of 4.26 mg/L (0.43 mg/g) which was 157% greater in comparison to unoptimized medium (1.68 mg/L, 0.17 mg/g). So, it was concluded that metabolic flux had been successfully redirected towards the mevalonate pathway for enhanced β-carotene production in CBS 277.49.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene/biosynthesis*

Fulltext Preparation, antioxidant potential and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of gum arabic-stabilised magnesium orotate nanoparticles

Abdelkader Hassani, Siti Aslina Hussain?, Abdullah, N., Suryani Kamarudin, Rozita Rosli

International Food Research Journal, 2020;27(1):150-159.

MyJurnal

The present work investigated the antioxidant properties and antihypertensive activity of
magnesium orotate (MgOr) using various established in vitro assays, such as β-carotene
bleaching activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and nitric oxide scavenging activity as well as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. Magnesium orotate
nanoparticles (MgOrGANPs) were prepared using the gum arabic (GA) as stabiliser coatings
for nanoparticles through freeze-drying method. The in vitro cytoxicity of MgOrGANPs
against human breast cancer MCF7, liver cancer HepG2, and colon cancer HT29 was investigated. The nitric oxide (NO) and DPPH scavenging assays of MgOrGANPs showed a
dose-dependent trend, while 500 and 200 µL/mL were significantly more effective than the
other concentrations with an IC50 of 89.56 µg/mL and 63.22% DPPH scavenging capacity
respectively. The exposure of human cancer cells to MgOrGANPs at 1.56 – 1,000 µg/mL
using 3-)4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl(2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) inhibited the
growth of cell lines examined in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, MgOrGANPs may have
great potential to be applied for cancer treatments.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

Fulltext Plasma carotenoids, vitamin C, tocopherols, and retinol and the risk of breast cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort

Bakker MF, Peeters PH, Klaasen VM, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Jansen EH, Ros MM, et al.

Am J Clin Nutr, 2016 Feb;103(2):454-64.

PMID: 26791185 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.114.101659

BACKGROUND: Carotenoids and vitamin C are thought to be associated with reduced cancer risk because of their antioxidative capacity.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the associations of plasma carotenoid, retinol, tocopherol, and vitamin C concentrations and risk of breast cancer.

DESIGN: In a nested case-control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort, 1502 female incident breast cancer cases were included, with an oversampling of premenopausal (n = 582) and estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) cases (n = 462). Controls (n = 1502) were individually matched to cases by using incidence density sampling. Prediagnostic samples were analyzed for α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, retinol, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and vitamin C. Breast cancer risk was computed according to hormone receptor status and age at diagnosis (proxy for menopausal status) by using conditional logistic regression and was further stratified by smoking status, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI). All statistical tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS: In quintile 5 compared with quintile 1, α-carotene (OR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.98) and β-carotene (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.65) were inversely associated with risk of ER- breast tumors. The other analytes were not statistically associated with ER- breast cancer. For estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) tumors, no statistically significant associations were found. The test for heterogeneity between ER- and ER+ tumors was statistically significant only for β-carotene (P-heterogeneity = 0.03). A higher risk of breast cancer was found for retinol in relation to ER-/progesterone receptor-negative tumors (OR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.20, 4.67; P-heterogeneity with ER+/progesterone receptor positive = 0.06). We observed no statistically significant interaction between smoking, alcohol, or BMI and all investigated plasma analytes (based on tertile distribution).

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that higher concentrations of plasma β-carotene and α-carotene are associated with lower breast cancer risk of ER- tumors.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene/blood*; beta Carotene/therapeutic use

Phytochemicals from Dodonaea viscosa and their antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities with structure-activity relationships

Muhammad A, Tel-Çayan G, Öztürk M, Duru ME, Nadeem S, Anis I, et al.

Pharm Biol, 2016 Sep;54(9):1649-55.

PMID: 26866457 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1113992

Context Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq (Sapindaceae) has been used in traditional medicine as antimalarial, antidiabetic and antibacterial agent, but further investigations are needed. Objective This study determines the antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of six compounds (1-6) and two crystals (1A and 3A) isolated from D. viscosa, and discusses their structure-activity relationships. Materials and methods Antioxidant activity was evaluated using six complementary tests, i.e., β-carotene-linoleic acid; DPPH(•), ABTS(•+), superoxide scavenging, CUPRAC and metal chelating assays. Anticholinesterase activity was performed using the Elman method. Results Clerodane diterpenoids (1 and 2) and phenolics (3-6) - together with three crystals (1A, 3A and 7A) - were isolated from the aerial parts of D. viscosa. Compound 3A exhibited good antioxidant activity in DPPH (IC50: 27.44 ± 1.06 μM), superoxide (28.18 ± 1.35% inhibition at 100 μM) and CUPRAC (A0.5: 35.89 ± 0.09 μM) assays. Compound 5 (IC50: 11.02 ± 0.02 μM) indicated best activity in ABTS assay, and 6 (IC50: 14.30 ± 0.18 μM) in β-carotene-linoleic acid assay. Compounds 1 and 3 were also obtained in the crystal (1A and 3A) form. Both crystals showed antioxidant activity. Furthermore, crystal 3A was more active than 3 in all activity tests. Phenol 6 possessed moderate anticholinesterase activity against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes (IC50 values: 158.14 ± 1.65 and 111.60 ± 1.28 μM, respectively). Discussion and conclusion This is the first report on antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of compounds 1, 2, 5, 6, 1A and 3A, and characterisation of 7A using XRD. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationships are also discussed in detail for the first time.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene/chemistry

Fulltext Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Capacity from Nypa fruticans Wurmb. Fruit

Prasad N, Yang B, Kong KW, Khoo HE, Sun J, Azlan A, et al.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2013;2013:154606.

PMID: 23710209 DOI: 10.1155/2013/154606

Nypa fruticans Wurmb. is one of the important underutilized fruit of Malaysia, which lacks scientific attention. Total phenolics, flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacities from endosperm extracts of Nypa fruticans (unripe and ripe fruits) were evaluated. Endosperm extract of unripe fruits (EEU) exhibited the highest phenolics (135.6 ± 4.5 mg GAE/g), flavonoid content (68.6 ± 3.1 RE/g), and antioxidant capacity. Free radical scavenging capacity of EEU as assessed by 2-2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radicals showed inhibitory activity of 78 ± 1.2% and 85 ± 2.6%, respectively. Beta carotene bleaching coefficient of EEU was higher (2550 ± 123), when compared to endosperm extract of ripe fruits (1729 ± 172). Additionally, EEU exhibited high antioxidant capacity by phosphomolybdenum method and ferric reducing antioxidant power values. Eight phenolic compounds from Nypa fruticans endosperm extracts were identified and quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, and kaempferol were the major phenolic compounds. Thus this fruit could be used as a potential source of natural antioxidant.

Matched MeSH terms: beta Carotene

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