The flower of Polygonatum cyrtonema has good edible and medicinal values. In this study, four samples of P. cyrtonema flowers from different regions were selected as test materials. The contents, composition and antioxidant activities of lipid-soluble pigments and alcohol-soluble components were determined under different light and temperature conditions, which help to reveal the discoloration reason and the composition variation patterns during storage. The results showed that light and temperature had different effects on the lipid-soluble pigments and alcohol-soluble components in the dried flowers during storage. After storage for 4 weeks, the contents of total chlorophyll, carotenoids, phenols and saponins in the samples exposed to light respectively decreased by 62.62%, 66.4%, 68.7% and 43.4% compared with those in the dark. The decreases in the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, lutein, β-carotene and zeaxanthin were 64.64%, 56.74%, 59.2%, 77.7% and 45.4%, respectively. The contents of pigments and components in the samples stored at-20 ℃ were significantly higher than those at room temperature and 4 ℃, indicating that low temperature was conductive to the stability of lipid-soluble pigments and alcohol-soluble components. The samples stored at low temperature and in the dark had the strongest free radical scavenging activity. The results suggest that P. cyrtonema dried flowers should be stored in low temperature environment without light, which can slow down the degradation of internal components. The study provides a theoretical basis for the production, processing and storage of P. cyrtonema flowers.
Antioxidants ; Carotenoids ; Chlorophyll A ; Flowers ; Polygonatum

Fresh,directly roasted and sand-roasted samples of the radix of ophlogogon contain also saponosids, flavonoids, aminoacides, carotenoids, sugars, fats. They are no significant differences. In decoction 1:1 form, ophlogogon with the dose of 2,5gr/kg of body weight manifests the inhibition of cough reflexe similar to terpine-codeine preparation;with the dose of 10mg /kg bd, no effect of phlegm clearing is manifested
Chemistry ; Biology ; Flavonoids ; Carotenoids ; Carbohydrates ; fats

Since synthetic pigments are potentially harmful to human health, natural ones such as bixin, one of the carotenoids, are favored. As the second widely used natural pigment in the world, there is significant interest in the biosynthetic pathway of bixin which has not been fully elucidated. This review summarizes the chemical properties, extraction methods, biosynthetic pathway and application of bixin. In addition, we compared the difference between traditional extraction methods and new extraction techniques. Moreover, we described the genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of bixin and the effects of abiotic stress on the biosynthesis of bixin, and discussed the application of bixin in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. However, the researches on bixin biosynthesis pathway are mostly carried out at the transcriptome level and most of the gene functions have not been elucidated. Therefore, we propose to characterize the entire bixin biosynthetic pathway using techniques of genomics, bioinformatics, and phytochemistry. This will help facilitate the synthetic biology research of bixin and development of bixin into new drugs.
Bixaceae/genetics* ; Carotenoids ; Humans ; Pigmentation ; Transcriptome

Carotenoids ; Dental Implants ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Oxygenases ; Tooth

A total of 206 residents (76 males and 130 females) of a rural area of Hokkaido, Japan, attending a health check in August, 1997, were studied to assess the relationship between serum carotenoids and atrophic gastritis (AG). Of the participants, 91 had AG, as indicated by their serum levels of pepsinogen I and pepsinogen II. Logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for gender and age, revealed that the odds ratios for serum carotenoid levels were lower for subjects with high serum levels of α-carotene (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% C.I., 0.19−0.88) and β-carotene (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% C.I., 0.18−0.91) than for those with low serum carotenoid levels. In addition, the odds ratios of subjects with high serum levels of β-cryptoxanthin (odds ratio, 0.60; 95% C.I., 0.28−1.31), provitamin A (odds ratio, 0.38; 95% C.I., 0.17−0.85), and retinol (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% C.I., 0.31−1.48) were found to be lower than the odds ratios for those with low serum levels. Odds ratios for subjects with high serum zeaxanthin/lutein levels were higher than odds ratios for those with low serum levels. These results suggest that frequent intake of foods rich in carotenoids with provitamin A activity may reduce the risk of AG.
Serum ; Carotenoids ; Carbon ion ; Hokkaido ; Silver

Brightly colored foods are a rich source of phytochemicals that may act against hyperglycemic agents. The major concern in diabetes is increased oxidative stress. Some studies on phytochemicals have revealed their antioxidant activities and beneficial effects for diabetes. Some well-known phytochemicals are carotinoids and flavonids such as lycopene, beta-carotin, and anthocyanin. Many studies suggest that phytochemical-rich foods might have therapeutic uses. However, the ingestion of improper amounts of these chemicals may be harmful. The most important message of this study is that a balanced diet has favorable effects on oxidative stress status in type 2 diabetes patients.
Anthocyanins ; Antioxidants ; Carotenoids ; Diet ; Eating ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Therapeutic Uses

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic variant in a neonate with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). METHODS: Clinical data of the neonate was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the child and his parents and subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS). RESULTS: The child was noted to have yellowish hair upon birth. NGS revealed that he has harbored a heterozygous c.3914del (p.P1305Rfs*20) frameshifting variant of the TSC2 gene. The variant has probably caused premature termination of translation, resulting in a truncated protein. CONCLUSION Yellowish hair has rarely been described as the first manifestation of TSC. The c.3914del (p.P1305Rfs*20) variant of the TSC2 gene probably underlay the TSC in this patient.
Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Tuberous Sclerosis/genetics* ; Family ; Carotenoids ; Heterozygote

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).
Citrus/metabolism* ; Carotenoids ; Xanthophylls ; Lutein/metabolism* ; Zeaxanthins/metabolism* ; Fruit

The present study was conducted to evaluate nutrient intakes of industrial workers with hyperlipidemia and cholesterol-saturated fat indices(CSI) of their daily meals and various side dishes accompanied with alcohol. Thirty eight male subjects of 41.0+/-6.5 years whose average serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were 222.9+/-37.7 and 282.3+/-139.3mg/dl were interviewed on daily intakes of foods and drinking habits including types and amounts of side dishes using 24-hour recall and questionnaire methods. Average energy habits including twenty six non-drinkers and twelve drinkers were 2365+/-416 and 2822+/-417kcal, respectively but intakes of other nutrients were not very different between two groups. Carotene intakes was, however, low in drinkers. Intakes of saturated fat, cholesterol and CSI of subjects' daily meals were 15.4+/-5.4g, 229+/-114mg and 27.1+/-10.4 for non-drinkers and 18.7+/-7.8g, 238+/-69mg and 30.8+/-9.8 for drinkers. CSI of their daily meals varied from 10 to 60 without much differences in energy values and were positively correlated with serum cholesterol levels(r=0.2606, p<0.05). Average alcohol intakes obtained from subjects' drinking habit was 89.5+/-46.8g per day and major side dish was roasted beef giving 660+/-234kcal of energy and 24.3+/-8.0 of CSI. From the present study, it is concluded that industrial workers are more prone to have hyperlipidemic diets due to alcohol. To improve their diet and health, an appropriate nutrition education should be necessary and CSI of various Korean foods and meals can be used as handy self-control education tool.
Carotenoids ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Drinking* ; Education ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Male ; Meals ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Triglycerides

Dietary intakes and plasma concentrations of retinol and carotenoids were estimated in assessing the vitamin A status of Korean adults living in Seoul and the metropolitan area. Three consecutive 24-h food recalls were collected from 106 healthy subjects (33 males and 73 females) aged 20-59 years. Fasting blood samples of the subjects were obtained and plasma retinol and carotenoids were analyzed. The daily vitamin A intakes (mean +/- SD) were 887.77 +/- 401.35 microg retinol equivalents or 531.84 +/- 226.42 microg retinol activity equivalents. There were no significant differences in vitamin A intakes among age groups. The retinol intake of subjects was 175.92 +/- 129.87 microg/day. The retinol intake of the subjects in their 50's was significantly lower than those in their 20's and 30's (P < 0.05). Provitamin A carotenoid intakes were 3,828.37 +/- 2,196.29 microg/day beta-carotene, 472.57 +/- 316.68 microg/day alpha-carotene, and 412.83 +/- 306.46 microg/day beta-cryptoxanthin. Approximately 17% of the subjects consumed vitamin A less than the Korean Estimated Average Requirements for vitamin A. The plasma retinol concentration was 1.22 +/- 0.34 micromol/L. There was no significant difference in plasma retinol concentrations among age groups. However, the concentrations of beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein of subjects in their 50's were significantly higher than those of in their 20's. Only one subject had a plasma retinol concentration < 0.70 micromol/L indicating marginal vitamin A status. Plasma retinol concentration in 30% of the subjects was 0.70- < 1.05 micromol/L, which is interpreted as the concentration possibly responsive to greater intake of vitamin A. In conclusion, dietary intakes and status of vitamin A were generally adequate in Korean adults examined in this study.
Adult ; Aged ; beta Carotene ; Carotenoids ; Fasting ; Humans ; Korea ; Lutein ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins ; Xanthophylls