scholarly journals The Benefits and Risks of Certain Dietary Carotenoids that Exhibit both Anti- and Pro-Oxidative Mechanisms—A Comprehensive Review

Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Homer S. Black ◽  
Fritz Boehm ◽  
Ruth Edge ◽  
T. George Truscott
Keyword(s):  
Singlet Oxygen ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Cellular Systems ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Singlet Oxygen Quenching ◽  
Risk Of Cancer ◽  
Β Carotene

Carotenoid pigments, particularly β-carotene and lycopene, are consumed in human foodstuffs and play a vital role in maintaining health. β-carotene is known to quench singlet oxygen and can have strong antioxidant activity. As such, it was proposed that β-carotene might reduce the risk of cancer. Epidemiological studies found inverse relationships between cancer risk and β-carotene intake or blood levels. However, clinical trials failed to support those findings and β-carotene supplementation actually increased lung cancer incidence in male smokers. Early experimental animal studies found dietary β-carotene inhibited UV-induced skin cancers. Later studies found that β-carotene supplementation exacerbated UV-carcinogenic expression. The discrepancies of these results were related to the type of diet the animals consumed. Lycopene has been associated with reduced risk of lethal stage prostate cancer. Other carotenoids, e.g., lutein and zeaxanthin, play a vital role in visual health. Numerous studies of molecular mechanisms to explain the carotenoids’ mode of action have centered on singlet oxygen, as well as radical reactions. In cellular systems, singlet oxygen quenching by carotenoids has been reported but is more complex than in organic solvents. In dietary β-carotene supplement studies, damaging pro-oxidant reactivity can also arise. Reasons for this switch are likely due to the properties of the carotenoid radicals themselves. Understanding singlet oxygen reactions and the anti-/pro-oxidant roles of carotenoids are of importance to photosynthesis, vision and cancer.

scholarly journals Intestinal absorption of epoxy-β-carotenes by humans

1999 ◽  
Vol 339 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun B. BARUA
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Induction Of Differentiation ◽  
Risk Of Cancer ◽  
Β Carotene ◽  
Reduced Risk

An increased intake of fruits and vegetables has been shown to be associated with reduced risk of cancer. In epidemiological studies, supplements of β-carotene, which is abundant in fruits and vegetables, were not found to be beneficial in reducing the incidence of lung cancer in high-risk groups. Epoxycarotenoids are abundant in nature. 5,6-Epoxy-β-carotene was much more active than β-carotene in the induction of differentiation of NB4 cells [Duitsman, Becker, Barua and Olson (1996) FASEB J. 10, A732]. Epoxycarotenes may, therefore, have protective effects against cancer. In order to do this, however, epoxycarotenoids must be absorbed by the human body. There is no evidence that epoxycarotenoids, despite their abundance in dietary fruits and vegetables, are absorbed by humans. In this paper, it is demonstrated that orally administered dietary or synthetic epoxy-β-carotenes are absorbed by humans, as indicated by their appearance in the circulating blood.

Carotenoids, tocopherols and thiols as biological singlet molecular oxygen quenchers

1990 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1054-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAOLO Di MASCIO ◽  
THOMAS P. A. DEVASAGAYAM ◽  
STEPHAN KAISER ◽  
HELMUT SIES
Keyword(s):  
Singlet Oxygen ◽  
Molecular Oxygen ◽  
Rate Constants ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Biological Tissues ◽  
Oxygen Quenching ◽  
Quenching Rate ◽  
Singlet Molecular Oxygen ◽  
Singlet Oxygen Quenching ◽  
Β Carotene

Singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) has been shown to be generated in biological systems and is capable of damaging proteins, lipids and DNA. The ability of some biological antioxidants to quench 1O2 was studied by using singlet oxygen generated by the thermodissociation of the endoperoxide of 3,3′-(1,4-naphthylidene) dipropionate (NDPO2). The carotenoid lycopene was the most efficient 1O2 quencher (kq + kr = 31 × 109m-1s-1). Tocopherols and thiols were less effective. The singlet oxygen quenching ability decreased in the following order: lycopene, γ-carotene, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, α-carotene, β-carotene, bixin, zeaxanthin, lutein, bilirubin, biliverdin, tocopherols and thiols. However, the compounds with low quenching rate constants occur at higher levels in biological tissues. Thus, carotenoids and tocopherols may contribute almost equally to the protection of tissues against the deleterious effects of 1O2. The quenching abilities of carotenoids and tocopherols were mainly due to physical quenching. In case of some thiols chemical quenching also plays a significant role. Carotenoids and tocopherols have been reported to exert a protective action against some types of cancer.

scholarly journals Recent Progress in Discovering the Role of Carotenoids and Their Metabolites in Prostatic Physiology and Pathology with a Focus on Prostate Cancer—A Review—Part I: Molecular Mechanisms of Carotenoid Action

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 585
Author(s):  
Joanna Dulińska-Litewka ◽  
Yoav Sharoni ◽  
Przemysław Hałubiec ◽  
Agnieszka Łazarczyk ◽  
Oskar Szafrański ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Intercellular Signaling ◽  
Cell Growth And Differentiation ◽  
Prostatic Diseases ◽  
Β Carotene ◽  
Area Data

Among the vast variety of plant-derived phytochemicals, the group of carotenoids has continuously been investigated in order to optimize their potential application in the area of dietary intervention and medicine. One organ which has been especially targeted in many of these studies and clinical trials is the human prostate. Without doubt, carotenoids (and their endogenous derivatives—retinoids and other apo-carotenoids) are involved in intra- and intercellular signaling, cell growth and differentiation of prostate tissue. Due to the accumulation of new data on the role of different carotenoids such as lycopene (LC) and β-carotene (BC) in prostatic physiology and pathology, the present review aims to cover the past ten years of research in this area. Data from experimental studies are presented in the first part of the review, while epidemiological studies are disclosed and discussed in the second part. The objective of this compilation is to emphasize the present state of knowledge regarding the most potent molecular targets of carotenoids and their main metabolites, as well as to propose promising carotenoid agents for the prevention and treatment of prostatic diseases.

scholarly journals Anticancer activity of vitamin D – molecular mechanisms

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 191-197
Author(s):  
Beata M. Gruber-Bzura
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Vitamin D Metabolism ◽  
Poor Prognostic Factor ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
25 Hydroxy Vitamin D ◽  
Well Differentiated ◽  
Risk Of Cancer ◽  
Vdr Polymorphisms

A large number of studies have pointed to the relations between blood levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D with cancer incidence and survival. The phenomenon of the multidirectional activity of vitamin D is possibly due to the presence of VDR in most nonskeletal human cells, including cancer cells. A wide range of the genes regulated by VDR are related with cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, angiogenesis and metastasis. In some preclinical studies, colon, lung and BC have all demonstrated downregulation of VDR expression as compared to normal cells, and well-differentiated tumors have shown more VDR expression when compared to their poorly differentiated counterparts. Generally, higher tumor VDR expression has been noted as correlating with better prognosis in cancer patients. However, vitamin D pathway genetic polymorphisms also may influence cancer risk. VDR polymorphisms have received the most attention, but this influence has also been observed in genes related to vitamin D metabolism or signalling, such as: CYP27B1, CYP24A1, VDBP or RXRA. Even though the associations between most of them and cancers were not significant, some studies show that VDR polymorphisms may be a better or poor prognostic factor to assess the risk of cancer. The aim of this paper was to present the molecular pathways affected by vitamin D, which are included in carcinogenesis. The literature survey comprised of research compiled from mostly the last five years and it proves vitamin D as the most phenomenal among other vitamins.

scholarly journals Interactions of dietary carotenoids with singlet oxygen (1O2) and free radicals: potential effects for human health.

2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fritz Böhm ◽  
Ruth Edge ◽  
T George Truscott
Keyword(s):  
Free Radicals ◽  
Singlet Oxygen ◽  
Skin Protection ◽  
Oxygen Quenching ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Photosynthetic Organisms ◽  
Singlet Oxygen Quenching ◽  
Protection Mechanisms ◽  
Anti Oxidant ◽  
Β Carotene

The dietary carotenoids provide photoprotection to photosynthetic organisms, the eye and the skin. The protection mechanisms involve both quenching of singlet oxygen and of damaging free radicals. The mechanisms for singlet oxygen quenching and protection against free radicals are quite different - indeed, under some conditions, quenching of free radicals can lead to a switch from a beneficial anti-oxidant process to damaging pro-oxidative situation. Furthermore, while skin protection involves β-carotene or lycopene from a tomato-rich diet, protection of the macula involves the hydroxyl-carotenoids (xanthophylls) zeaxanthin and lutein. Time resolved studies of singlet oxygen and free radicals and their interaction with carotenoids via pulsed laser and fast electron spectroscopy (pulse radiolysis) and the possible involvement of amino acids are discussed and used to (1) speculate on the anti- and pro-oxidative mechanisms, (2) determine the most efficient singlet oxygen quencher and (3) demonstrate the benefits to photoprotection of the eye from the xanthophylls rather than from hydrocarbon carotenoids such as β-carotene.

scholarly journals In Vitro Antioxidant, Antityrosinase, and Cytotoxic Activities of Astaxanthin from Shrimp Waste

Antioxidants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sutasinee Chintong ◽  
Wipaporn Phatvej ◽  
Ubon Rerk-Am ◽  
Yaowapha Waiprib ◽  
Wanwimol Klaypradit
Keyword(s):  
Singlet Oxygen ◽  
Antioxidant Activities ◽  
Dermal Fibroblast ◽  
Radical Scavenging ◽  
Human Dermal Fibroblast ◽  
Cytotoxic Activities ◽  
Singlet Oxygen Quenching ◽  
Β Carotene ◽  
Health Applications

Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant compared with vitamins and other antioxidants. However, astaxanthin extract from shrimp processing waste has not yet been used in cosmetic products. This study aimed to explore the natural astaxanthin from shrimp shells for antioxidant and antityrosinase activities as well as potential toxicity. The antioxidant activities were performed with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, β-carotene bleaching, and singlet oxygen quenching assays. The results revealed that astaxanthin extract demonstrated potent antioxidant activities against DPPH and ABTS radicals, and prevented the bleaching of β-carotene and quenching of singlet oxygen (EC50 17.5 ± 3.6, 7.7 ± 0.6, 15.1 ± 1.9 and 9.2 ± 0.5 μg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, the astaxanthin extract could inhibit tyrosinase activity (IC50 12.2 ± 1.5 μg/mL) and had no toxic effects on human dermal fibroblast cells. These results suggested that shrimp astaxanthin would be a promising dietary supplement for skin health applications.

scholarly journals Environmental Exposures and Hearing Loss

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (13) ◽  
pp. 4879
Author(s):  
Rita Rosati ◽  
Samson Jamesdaniel
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Synergistic Interactions ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Auditory Dysfunction ◽  
Acquired Hearing Loss ◽  
The Common ◽  
Living Organisms

Pollutants that contaminate the natural or built environment adversely affect the health of living organisms. Although exposure to many of them could be avoided or minimized by careful preventive measures, it is impossible to totally avoid exposure to all pollutants. Ototraumatic agents, such as noise, chemicals, and heavy metals, are pervasive pollutants, mostly produced by human activity, and are critical factors in inducing acquired hearing loss. More importantly, exposure to these pollutants often occurs concurrently and, therefore, the synergistic interactions potentiate auditory dysfunction in susceptible individuals. Epidemiological studies have provided compelling data on the incidence of auditory dysfunction after exposure to a number of ototraumatic agents in the environment, while animal studies have offered crucial insights for understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms. Together, they provide a framework for developing effective interventional approaches for mitigating the adverse impacts of environmental or occupational exposure to ototraumatic agents. This article provides a brief overview of the common pollutants that cause hearing loss.

scholarly journals Preventive Aspects of Early Resveratrol Supplementation in Cardiovascular and Kidney Disease of Developmental Origins

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4210
Author(s):  
Chien-Ning Hsu ◽  
Chih-Yao Hou ◽  
You-Lin Tain
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Developmental Origins ◽  
Polyphenolic Compound

The increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and kidney disease has stimulated research for strategies that could prevent, rather than just treat, both interconnected disorders. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound with pleiotropic biofunctions, has shown health benefits. Emerging epidemiological data supports that early life environmental insults are regarded as increased risks of developing CVDs and kidney disease in adulthood. Conversely, both disorders could be reversed or postponed by shifting interventions from adulthood to earlier stage by so-called reprogramming. The purpose of this review is first to highlight current epidemiological studies linking cardiovascular and renal programming to resulting CVD and kidney disease of developmental origins. This will be followed by a summary of how resveratrol could exert a positive influence on CVDs and kidney disease. This review also presents an overview of the evidence documenting resveratrol as a reprogramming agent to protect against CVD and kidney disease of developmental origins from animal studies and to outline the advances in understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms. Overall, this review reveals the need for future research to further clarify the reprogramming effects of resveratrol before clinical translation.

Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Uterine Fibroids

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajra Takala ◽  
Qiwei Yang ◽  
Ahmed M. Abd El Razek ◽  
Mohamed Ali ◽  
Ayman Al-Hendy
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Uterine Fibroids ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Working Adults ◽  
The Us ◽  
Alcohol Related Problems

Lifestyle factors, such as alcohol intake, have placed a substantial burden on public health. Alcohol consumption is increasing globally due to several factors including easy accessibility of this addictive substance besides its legal status and social acceptability. In the US, alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death (after tobacco, poor diet and physical inactivity) with an estimated 88,000 people dying from alcohol-related causes annually, representing 1 in 10 deaths among working adults. Furthermore, the economic burden of excess drinking costs the US around $249 billion ($191.1 billion related to binge drinking). Although men likely drink more than women do, women are at much higher risk for alcohol-related problems. Alcohol use is also considered to be one of the most common non-communicable diseases, which affects reproductive health. This review article summarizes the current knowledge about alcohol-related pathogenesis of uterine fibroids (UFs) and highlights the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of UFs in response to alcohol consumption. Additionally, the effect of alcohol on the levels of various factors that are involved in UFs pathogenesis, such as steroid hormones, growth factors and cytokines, are summarized in this review. Animal studies of deleterious alcohol effect and future directions are discussed as well.

scholarly journals The Effect of Alcohol on Telomere Length: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Evidence and a Pilot Study during Pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 5038
Author(s):  
Andrea Maugeri ◽  
Martina Barchitta ◽  
Roberta Magnano San Lio ◽  
Maria Clara La Rosa ◽  
Claudia La Mastra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Potential Association ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Periconceptional Period ◽  
Using Data

Several studies—albeit with still inconclusive and limited findings—began to focus on the effect of drinking alcohol on telomere length (TL). Here, we present results from a systematic review of these epidemiological studies to investigate the potential association between alcohol consumption, alcohol-related disorders, and TL. The analysis of fourteen studies—selected from PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science databases—showed that people with alcohol-related disorders exhibited shorter TL, but also that alcohol consumption per se did not appear to affect TL in the absence of alcohol abuse or dependence. Our work also revealed a lack of studies in the periconceptional period, raising the need for evaluating this potential relationship during pregnancy. To fill this gap, we conducted a pilot study using data and samples form the Mamma & Bambino cohort. We compared five non-smoking but drinking women with ten non-smoking and non-drinking women, matched for maternal age, gestational age at recruitment, pregestational body mass index, and fetal sex. Interestingly, we detected a significant difference when analyzing relative TL of leukocyte DNA of cord blood samples from newborns. In particular, newborns from drinking women exhibited shorter relative TL than those born from non-drinking women (p = 0.024). Although these findings appeared promising, further research should be encouraged to test any dose–response relationship, to adjust for the effect of other exposures, and to understand the molecular mechanisms involved.

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