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Marine Drugs Dec 2023Crocin is one of the most valuable components of the Chinese medicinal plant and is widely used in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Traditional... (Review)
Review
Crocin is one of the most valuable components of the Chinese medicinal plant and is widely used in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Traditional planting of is unable to fulfill the increasing demand for crocin in the global market, however, such that researchers have turned their attention to the heterologous production of crocin in a variety of hosts. At present, there are reports of successful heterologous production of crocin in , , microalgae, and plants that do not naturally produce crocin. Of these, the microalga , which produces high levels of -carotene, the substrate for crocin biosynthesis, is worthy of attention. This article describes the biosynthesis of crocin, compares the features of each heterologous host, and clarifies the requirements for efficient production of crocin in microalgae.
Topics: Carotenoids; beta Carotene; Chlorophyceae; Drug Industry; Escherichia coli; Microalgae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
PubMed: 38248646
DOI: 10.3390/md22010022 -
Methods in Enzymology 2022Carotenoids constitute an essential dietary component of animals and other non-carotenogenic species which use these pigments in both their modified and unmodified...
Carotenoids constitute an essential dietary component of animals and other non-carotenogenic species which use these pigments in both their modified and unmodified forms. Animals utilize uncleaved carotenoids to mitigate light damage and oxidative stress and to signal fitness and health. Carotenoids also serve as precursors of apocarotenoids including retinol, and its retinoid metabolites, which carry out essential functions in animals by forming the visual chromophore 11-cis-retinaldehyde. Retinoids, such as all-trans-retinoic acid, can also act as ligands of nuclear hormone receptors. The fact that enzymes and biochemical pathways responsible for the metabolism of carotenoids in animals bear resemblance to the ones in plants and other carotenogenic species suggests an evolutionary relationship. We will explore some of the modes of transmission of carotenoid genes from carotenogenic species to metazoans. This apparent relationship has been successfully exploited in the past to identify and characterize new carotenoid and retinoid modifying enzymes. We will review approaches used to identify putative animal carotenoid enzymes, and we will describe methods used to functionally validate and analyze the biochemistry of carotenoid modifying enzymes encoded by animals.
Topics: Animals; Carotenoids; Plants; Retinaldehyde; Retinoids
PubMed: 36008015
DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.05.005 -
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in... Jan 2023A catalysis-based regioselective 1,4-fluorofunctionalization of trifluoromethyl substituted 1,3-dienes has been developed to access compact, highly functionalized...
A catalysis-based regioselective 1,4-fluorofunctionalization of trifluoromethyl substituted 1,3-dienes has been developed to access compact, highly functionalized products. The process allows E,Z-mixed dienes to be processed to a single E-alkene isomer, and leverages an inexpensive and operationally convenient I(I)/I(III) catalysis platform. The first example of catalytic 1,4-difluorination is disclosed and subsequently evolved to enable 1,4-hetero-difunctionalization, which allows δ-fluoro-alcohol and amine derivatives to be forged in a single operation. The protocol is compatible with a variety of nucleophiles including fluoride, nitriles, carboxylic acids, alcohols and even water thereby allowing highly functionalized products, with a stereocenter bearing both C(sp )-F and C(sp )-CF groups, to be generated rapidly. Scalability (up to 3 mmol), and facile post-reaction modifications are demonstrated to underscore the utility of the method in expanding organofluorine chemical space.
Topics: Polyenes; Isomerism; Alkenes; Catalysis; Alcohols
PubMed: 36345795
DOI: 10.1002/anie.202214906 -
Nutrition Reviews Feb 2016β-Cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid found in fruits and vegetables such as tangerines, red peppers, and pumpkin, has several functions important for human health. Most... (Review)
Review
β-Cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid found in fruits and vegetables such as tangerines, red peppers, and pumpkin, has several functions important for human health. Most evidence from observational, in vitro, animal model, and human studies suggests that β-cryptoxanthin has relatively high bioavailability from its common food sources, to the extent that some β-cryptoxanthin-rich foods might be equivalent to β-carotene-rich foods as sources of retinol. β-Cryptoxanthin is an antioxidant in vitro and appears to be associated with decreased risk of some cancers and degenerative diseases. In addition, many in vitro, animal model, and human studies suggest that β-cryptoxanthin-rich foods may have an anabolic effect on bone and, thus, may help delay osteoporosis.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Biological Availability; Bone and Bones; Carotenoids; Cryptoxanthins; Diet; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Neoplasms; Vitamin A
PubMed: 26747887
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuv064 -
Food Research International (Ottawa,... Mar 2021The aim of this study was the use and revalorization of two persimmon by-products A and B generated in the juice production process. The by-product B resulting from a...
The aim of this study was the use and revalorization of two persimmon by-products A and B generated in the juice production process. The by-product B resulting from a pectinase enzymatic treatment of peels and pulp to optimize juice extraction was especially suitable for recovery of valuable bioactive carotenoids. The extraction solvents and solvent combinations used were: ethanol, acetone, ethanol/acetone (50:50 v/v) and ethanol/acetone/hexane (25:25:50 v/v/v). HPLC-DAD analysis detected and identified a total of nine individual carotenoids namely violaxanthin, neoxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin 5,6-epoxide, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, and β-carotene. β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene represented 49.2% and 13.2% of the total carotenoid content (TCC) in the acetone extract from by-product B. TCC contributed greatly to antioxidant activity of acetone extract derived from this by-product. Pectinase enzymatic treatment of persimmon peels and pulp followed by absolute acetone extraction of carotenoids could be an efficient method to obtain a rich extract in these compounds that could be used as nutraceutical ingredient.
Topics: Carotenoids; Diospyros; Fruit; Lutein; Zeaxanthins
PubMed: 33641941
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109882 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2022are of great interest in the pharmaceutical industry as they produce a plethora of secondary metabolites that act as antibacterial and antifungal agents. They may... (Review)
Review
are of great interest in the pharmaceutical industry as they produce a plethora of secondary metabolites that act as antibacterial and antifungal agents. They may thrive on their own in the soil, or associate with other organisms, such as plants or invertebrates. Some soil-derived strains exhibit hemolytic properties when cultivated on blood agar, raising the question of whether hemolysis could be a virulence factor of the bacteria. In this work we examined hemolytic compound production in 23 β-hemolytic isolates; of these 12 were soil-derived, 10 were arthropod-associated, and 1 was plant-associated. An additional human-associated sp. TR1341 served as a control. Mass spectrometry analysis suggested synthesis of polyene molecules responsible for the hemolysis: candicidins, filipins, strevertene A, tetrafungin, and tetrin A, as well as four novel polyene compounds (denoted here as polyene A, B, C, and D) in individual liquid cultures or paired co-cultures. The non-polyene antifungal compounds actiphenol and surugamide A were also identified. The findings indicate that the ability of to produce cytolytic compounds (here manifested by hemolysis on blood agar) is an intrinsic feature of the bacteria in the soil environment and could even serve as a virulence factor when colonizing available host organisms. Additionally, a literature review of polyenes and non-polyene hemolytic metabolites produced by is presented.
Topics: Humans; Streptomyces; Antifungal Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Polyenes; Hemolysis; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 36499372
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315045 -
Communications Biology Feb 2023This Perspective discusses how retinol catalyzes resonance energy transfer (RET) reactions pivotally important for mitochondrial energy homeostasis by protein kinase C... (Review)
Review
This Perspective discusses how retinol catalyzes resonance energy transfer (RET) reactions pivotally important for mitochondrial energy homeostasis by protein kinase C δ (PKCδ). PKCδ signals to the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, controlling oxidative phosphorylation. The PKCδ-retinol complex reversibly responds to the redox potential of cytochrome c, that changes with the electron transfer chain workload. In contrast, the natural retinoid anhydroretinol irreversibly activates PKCδ. Its elongated conjugated-double-bond system limits the energy quantum absorbed by RET. Consequently, while capable of triggering the exergonic activating pathway, anhydroretinol fails to activate the endergonic silencing path, trapping PKCδ in the ON position and causing harmful levels of reactive oxygen species. However, physiological retinol levels displace anhydroretinol, buffer cyotoxicity and potentially render anhydroretinol useful for rapid energy generation. Intriguingly, apocarotenoids, the primary products of the mitochondrial β-carotene,9'-10'-oxygenase, have all the anhydroretinol-like features, including modulation of energy homeostasis. We predict significant conceptual advances to stem from further understanding of the retinoid-catalyzed RET.
Topics: Retinoids; Vitamin A; beta Carotene; Biology
PubMed: 36854887
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04602-x -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Carotenoid compounds are ubiquitous in nature, providing the characteristic colouring of many algae, bacteria, fruits and vegetables. They are a critical component of... (Review)
Review
Carotenoid compounds are ubiquitous in nature, providing the characteristic colouring of many algae, bacteria, fruits and vegetables. They are a critical component of the human diet and play a key role in human nutrition, health and disease. Therefore, the clinical importance of qualitative and quantitative carotene content analysis is increasingly recognised. In this review, the structural and optical properties of carotenoid compounds are reviewed, differentiating between those of carotenes and xanthophylls. The strong non-resonant and resonant Raman spectroscopic signatures of carotenoids are described, and advances in the use of Raman spectroscopy to identify carotenoids in biological environments are reviewed. Focus is drawn to applications in nutritional analysis, optometry and serology, based on in vitro and ex vivo measurements in skin, retina and blood, and progress towards establishing the technique in a clinical environment, as well as challenges and future perspectives, are explored.
Topics: Humans; Lutein; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; beta Carotene; Carotenoids; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins
PubMed: 36558154
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27249017 -
Journal of the American Heart... Feb 2023Background Systemic oxidative stress is involved in the development of hypertension, whereas carotenoids are a group of natural antioxidants. Our study aims to evaluate...
Background Systemic oxidative stress is involved in the development of hypertension, whereas carotenoids are a group of natural antioxidants. Our study aims to evaluate the relationships between the serum concentrations of major carotenoids and mortality in hypertensive adults. Methods and Results Data on 5 serum carotenoids from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III and NHANES 2001-2006 were included. Outcome measures (all-cause and cardiovascular mortality) were identified from the National Death Index through December 31, 2019. Multiple Cox proportional hazards regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were performed to determine the association between carotenoid levels and outcomes. A total of 8390 hypertensive adults were included in the analysis. At a median follow-up duration of 16.6 years, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality occurred in 4005 (47.74%) and 1205 (14.36%) participants, respectively. Compared with the lowest quartiles, the highest quartiles of 5 major serum carotenoids were associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality, with multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.56-0.71) for α-carotene, 0.70 (95% CI, 0.61-0.80); for β-carotene, 0.67 (95% CI, 0.58-0.76); for β-cryptoxanthin, 0.74 (95% CI, 0.64-0.86) for lycopene; and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.63-0.83) for lutein/zeaxanthin. For cause-specific mortality, this association with the fourth quartile of serum carotenoids was evident for a reduced rate of cardiovascular mortality, with a 32% reduction for α-carotene (HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.55-0.86]), a 29% reduction for β-cryptoxanthin (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.56-0.89]), and a 26% reduction for lycopene (HR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.59-0.94]), but not for β-carotene and lutein/zeaxanthin. In addition, we found that serum α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein/zeaxanthin levels were nonlinearly related to all-cause mortality with inflection points of 2.43, 8.49, 5.12, and 14.17 μg/dL, respectively. Serum α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein/zeaxanthin concentrations showed nonlinear associations with cardiovascular mortality with inflection points of 2.31, 5.26, and 15.40 μg/dL, respectively. Conclusions Findings suggest that higher serum carotenoid concentrations were associated with lower risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive adults.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Lycopene; beta Carotene; Lutein; Nutrition Surveys; Zeaxanthins; Xanthophylls; Beta-Cryptoxanthin; Carotenoids; Hypertension
PubMed: 36752230
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.122.027568 -
Journal of Nutritional Science 2019Decreases in cognitive function related to increases in oxidative stress and inflammation occur with ageing. Acknowledging the free radical-quenching activity and...
Decreases in cognitive function related to increases in oxidative stress and inflammation occur with ageing. Acknowledging the free radical-quenching activity and anti-inflammatory action of the carotenoid lycopene, the aim of the present review was to assess if there is evidence for a protective relationship between lycopene and maintained cognitive function or between lycopene and development or progression of dementia. A systematic literature search identified five cross-sectional and five longitudinal studies examining these outcomes in relation to circulating or dietary lycopene. Among four studies evaluating relationships between lycopene and maintained cognition, three reported significant positive relationships. Neither of the two studies reporting on relationship between lycopene and development of dementia reported significant results. Of four studies investigating circulating lycopene and pre-existing dementia, only one reported significant associations between lower circulating lycopene and higher rates of Alzheimer's disease mortality. Acknowledging heterogeneity among studies, there is insufficient evidence and a paucity of data to draw firm conclusions or tease apart direct effects of lycopene. Nevertheless, as low circulating lycopene is a predictor of all-cause mortality, further investigation into its relationship with cognitive longevity and dementia-related mortality is warranted.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Carotenoids; Cognition; Databases, Factual; Dementia; Diet; Disease Progression; Humans; Lycopene
PubMed: 31217968
DOI: 10.1017/jns.2019.16