Carotenoid components and their biosynthesis in a bud mutant of Shiranui mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) with citrine flavedo / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Carotenoids are secondary metabolite responsible for colored pigments in plants and microbes (Li et al., 2022). They are a class of C40 tetraterpenoids consisting of eight isoprenoid units, and can be classified into carotenes and xanthophylls on the basis of their functional groups (Saini et al., 2015). Carotenes can be linear (phytoene, phytofluene, and ζ‍-carotene) or branched (β‍-carotene and α‍-carotene). Xanthophylls comprise β,β‍-xanthophylls (β‍-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, violaxanthins, and neoxanthin) and β,ε‍-xanthophylls (α-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, and lutein). Citrus fruits are complex sources of carotenoids, which are the principal pigments responsible for the typical orange color of most types (Chen, 2020). The difference in total carotenoid content and the diversity of carotenoid isomer proportion also accounts for other colors of citrus fruits, such as yellow, red, and pink (Chen, 2020).

Long-term Results of Taking Anti-oxidant Nutritional Supplement in Intermediate Age-related Macular Degeneration

PURPOSE: We prospectively investigated clinical changes and long-term outcomes after administration of the drugs recommended by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study-2 to patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: This prospective multicenter study enrolled 79 eyes of 55 patients taking lutein and zeaxanthin. The primary endpoint was contrast sensitivity; this was checked every 12 months for a total of 36 months after treatment commenced. The secondary endpoints were visual acuity, central macular thickness, and drusen volume; the latter two parameters were assessed using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 72.46 ± 7.16 years. Contrast sensitivity gradually improved at both three and six cycles per degree. The corrected visual acuity was 0.13 ± 0.14 logMAR and did not change significantly over the 36 months. Neither the central macular thickness nor drusen volume changed significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast sensitivity markedly improved after treatment, improving vision and patient satisfaction. Visual acuity, central retinal thickness, and drusen volume did not deteriorate. Therefore, progression of AMD and visual function deterioration were halted.

Association of serum carotenoid, retinol, and tocopherol concentrations with the progression of Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A pivotal role of oxidative stress has been emphasized in the pathogenesis as well as in the disease progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed at investigating serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and elucidating whether they could be associated with the pathogenesis and progression of PD. MATERIALS/METHODS: Serum levels of retinol, α- and γ-tocopherols, α- and β-carotenes, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin were measured and compared between 104 patients with idiopathic PD and 52 healthy controls matched for age and gender. In order to examine the relationship between antioxidant vitamins and the disease progression, multiple group comparisons were performed among the early PD (Hoehn and Yahr stage I and II, N = 47), advanced PD (stage III and IV, N = 57) and control groups. Separate correlation analyses were performed between the measured antioxidant vitamins and clinical variables, such as Hoehn and Yahr stage and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score. RESULTS: Compared to controls, PD patients had lower levels of α- and β-carotenes and lycopene. α-carotene, β-carotene and lycopene levels were significantly reduced in advanced PD patients relative to early PD patients and were negatively correlated with Hoehn and Yahr stage and UPDRS motor score in PD patients. No significant differences were found in serum levels of retinol, α- and γ-tocopherols, and other carotenoids between PD patients and controls. No significant correlations were found between these vitamin levels and clinical variables in PD patients. CONCLUSIONS: We found that serum levels of some carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene and lycopene, were lower in PD patients, and that these carotenoids inversely correlated with clinical variables representing disease progression. Our findings suggest that decreases in serum α-carotene, β-carotene and lycopene may be associated with the pathogenesis as well as progression of PD.

Nutritional supplement for age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in the elderly in developed countries but therapeutic options are limited. Many observational studies have shown that a high dietary intake of antioxidants, fish oil, and carotenoids is associated with a lower risk of prevalent and incident AMD. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 1 demonstrated that routine supplementation with a certain formulation of vitamins C, E, β-carotene, and zinc with copper reduces the risk of worsening AMD and severe vision loss by 25% over a 6-year period in patients with intermediate or advanced AMD in 1 eye or intermediate AMD in both eyes. The recent Age- Related Eye Disease Study 2 demonstrated that a certain combination of lutein and zeaxanthin is a safe and effective alternative to β-carotene, which is known to be associated with lung cancer in smokers. The aim of this review focuses on the role of supplements in the treatment and prevention of AMD and sums up the recent findings about the micronutrients most frequently used for AMD.

Macular pigment optical density in healthy eyes of Filipino adults

Objective@#To determine the range of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) levels in healthy Filipino adults using both the MPS II and the macuscope and to investigate whether age and sex were related to inter-subject variations in MPOD.@*Methods@#This was a prospective, cross sectional study of 168 healthy Filipino patients who underwent heterochromic filter photometry to measure macular pigment levels using the MPS II and the macuscope. The MPOD levels were averaged per age group and analyzed as to variations among age and gender.@*Results@#One hundred thirty (130) and thirty-eight (38) patients underwent MPS II and macuscope testing respectively. The mean MPOD level for MPS II was 0.39(±0.16) and for macuscope 0.27(±0.07). MPOD values were similar across all age groups and gender, but they were lower when measured with the macuscope.@*Conclusions@#MPOD levels measured among healthy Filipino adults were lower with the macuscope compared to the MPS II. These differences should take into consideration the differences in apparatus and techniques of measurement.

Prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration by extract of Fructus lycii and its constituents lutein/zeaxanthin: an in vive and in vitro experimental research / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the in vivo inhibition of extract of Fructus lycii (FL) on the expressions of cathepsin B (Cat B) and cystatin C (Cys C) in high-fat diet and hydroquinone (HQ) induced model mice with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and to explore the in vitro effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2,) induced expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) on ARPE-19 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty female 8-month-old C57BL/6 mice were recruited in this research. Ten mice fed with regular diet was taken as the age control group. The rest 40 mice were fed with high fat diet for 6 months, followed by adding HQ (0. 8%) in the drinking water for 3 consecutive months. Then the modeled mice were randomly divided into the model control group (n =10), the high (at the daily dose of 3.75 g/kg), middle (at the daily dose of 2.50 g/kg), and low dose (at the daily dose of 1.25 g/kg) FL groups, 10 in each group. The extract of FL at each dose was respectively administered to mice by gastrogavage for 3 successive months. By the end of the experiment, the mice were killed and their eyeballs were removed. The protein expressions of Cat B and Cys C were observed by immunohistochemical assay. The mRNA and protein expressions of Cat B and Cys C were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot respectively. The drug concentrations of H2O2, lutein, and zeaxanthin were screened and detected using the activity of cell proliferation. The protein expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were detected using Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the age control group, the mRNA and protein expressions of Cat B and Cys C were significantly higher in the in vivo model control group (P <0.05, P <0.01). The mRNA expressions of Cat B and Cys C were weaker in the middle and high dose FL groups than in the model control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). In in vitro cells, lutein and zeaxanthin could down-regulate the protein expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in H202 induced ARPE-19 cells (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Extract of FL could down-regulate the high protein expressions of Cat B and Cys C in high-fat diet and HQ induced model mice. Lutein and zeaxanthin could down-regulate the protein expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in H202 induced ARPE-19 cells.</p>

Comparison of lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene level in raw and cooked foods consumed in Beijing / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene level in foods commonly consumed in Beijing, and compare the content difference between raw and cooked food.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-six commonly consumed foods of 8 classes were collected in Haidian district of Beijing from September to October in 2009. A high performance liquid chromatography method was used to determine the content of lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene in both raw and cooked samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lutein was abundant in cucurbitaceous and solanaceous, allium and nuts, especially in Chinese chive (18 226.9 µg/100 g) and pumpkin (13 265.2 µg/100 g). Major sources of zeaxanthin included round pumpkin, green garlic shoot, corn and eggs, whose level of zeaxanthin were 444.6, 283.5, 279.7, 118.6 - 377.9 µg/100 g, respectively. Zeaxanthin level of those cooked foods changed to 483.9, 239.3, 279.1, 149.5 - 594.7 µg/100 g, respectively. The zeaxanthin level of cooked Chinese chive reached 1081.2 µg/100 g, while we did not detect any zeaxanthin in raw Chinese chive. β-carotene was present in a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. Carrot (17 234.3 µg/100 g) was a good source of β-carotene, while its level in cooked carrot was 17 013.5 µg/100 g.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Consuming the proper kinds of foods and changing the method of food processing were beneficial to increase the intake of lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene.</p>

Macular carotenoids and age-related maculopathy

Lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are concentrated at the macula, where they are collectively known as macular pigment (MP), and where they are believed to play a major role in protecting retinal tissues against oxidative stress. Whilst the exact pathogenesis of age-related maculopathy (ARM) remains unknown, the disruption of cellular processes by oxidative stress may play an important role. Manipulation of dietary intake of L and Z has been shown to augment MP, thereby raising hopes that dietary supplementation with these carotenoids might prevent, delay, or modify the course of ARM. This article discusses the scientific rationale supporting the hypothesis that L and Z are protective against ARM, and presents the recent evidence germane to this theory.

Studies on chemical constitutes of green alga Chaetomorpha basiretorsa and their bioactivity / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of Chaetomorpha basiretorsa and screen for bioactive leading compounds.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Compounds were isolated by normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, reverse phase MPLC and reverse phase HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including MS, IR and 1D, 2D NMR. Cytotoxicity of the compounds was screened by using standard MTT method. The purified compounds' inhibition against proliferation of dog vascular smooth muscle cells was also screened by MTT assay.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Five compounds were isolated from C. basiretorsa and their structures were identified as euphol (I), loloilide (II), 4-cumylphenol (III), zeaxanthin (IV) and lactucaxanthin (V).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All these compounds were obtained from this genus for the first time. Compound (III), 4-cumylphenol, was a new nature product. All compounds were inactive (IC50 > 10 microg x mL(-1)) in cytotoxicity screening. In inhibition against proliferation of dog vascular smooth muscle cells test, the cell survival ratio to compound I was (0.32 +/- 0.056)% which indicate its potential anti-atherosclerotic bioactivity.</p>

The effects of carotenoids on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell and gene expression of bcl-2 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of various carotenoids on the proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and expression of bcl-2 gene in breast cancer cell MCF-7.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Time and dose effects of individual carotenoids were detected using the MTT assay. The effects of individual carotenoids on cell cycle and the apoptosis were observed by flow cytometry. The expression of bcl-2 mRNA gene was detected using the RT-PCR method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 4 carotenoids tested inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cell line, but with different potencies. beta-carotene and lycopene were the most active inhibitors (inhibition rate 88.2% and 87.8%, respectively) followed by zeaxanthin and astaxanthin. All 4 carotenoids did not induce cell apoptosis. Cell cycle progression was blocked at G(2)/M phase with 60 micromol/L lycopene and at G(0)/G(1) phase with 60 micromol/L zeaxanthin dipalmitate. Carotenoids down regulated bcl-2 gene expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Carotenoids could inhibit the proliferation of human beast cancer MCF-7 cell line in vitro and the action of carotenoids may be worked through different pathways.</p>