Carotenoid Assessments and Antioxidant Activities from Flower Petals

The objectives of this study were to evaluate carotenoid pigment profile and the antioxidant activity from 14 commonly grown flowers in Thailand. The result found that orange marigold showed the highest total carotenoid content at as 2,209±75.58 µg/g, followed by deep yellow chrysanthemum at 551.27±47.72 µg/g (P<0.01). The next lower total carotenoid content group was found in yellow silk cotton, yellow trumpetbush, yellow marigold and yellow golden shower with total carotenoid content of 447.42±27.56, 429.46±28.34, 409.85±34.58 and 363.88±12.74 µg/g, respectively. The highest antioxidant activities against DPPH and ABTS radicles were found from orange marigold, which were 32.34±2.16 and 50.08±0.87%, respectively. Deep yellow chrysanthemum, yellow silk cotton, yellow trumpetbush, yellow marigold and yellow golden shower also showed significantly higher antioxidant activities than other flowers (P<0.01). Total carotenoid contents well correlated with antioxidant activities against DPPH and ABTS radicals (r = 0.6924 and r = 0.8270, respectively) at P<0.01. TLC result elucidated that orange marigold, yellow silk cotton and yellow golden shower were a good source of β-carotene, while deep yellow chrysanthemum and yellow marigold were a good source of lutein and/or zeaxanthin. The result indicated that flower petals would be useful as natural carotenoid source and provide antioxidants for food industry.

Analysis of Carotenoids in Haloarchaea Species from Atacama Saline Lakes by High Resolution UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-Mass Spectrometry: Antioxidant Potential and Biological Effect on Cell Viability

Haloarchaea are extreme halophilic microorganisms belonging to the domain Archaea, phylum Euryarchaeota, and are producers of interesting antioxidant carotenoid compounds. In this study, four new strains of Haloarcula sp., isolated from saline lakes of the Atacama Desert, are reported and studied by high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS) for the first time. In addition, determination of the carotenoid pigment profile from the new strains of Haloarcula sp., plus two strains of Halorubrum tebenquichense, and their antioxidant activity by means of several methods is reported. The effect of biomass on cellular viability in skin cell lines was also evaluated by MTT assay. The cholinesterase inhibition capacity of six haloarchaea (Haloarcula sp. ALT-23; Haloarcula sp. TeSe-41; Haloarcula sp. TeSe-51; Haloarcula sp. Te Se-89 and Halorubrum tebenquichense strains TeSe-85 and Te Se-86) is also reported for the first time. AChE inhibition IC50 was 2.96 ± 0.08 mg/mL and BuChE inhibition IC50 was 2.39 ± 0.09 mg/mL for the most active strain, Halorubrum tebenquichense Te Se-85, respectively, which is more active in BuCHe than that of the standard galantamine. Docking calculation showed that carotenoids can exert their inhibitory activity fitting into the enzyme pocket by their halves, in the presence of cholinesterase dimers.

Major changes in plastid protein import and the origin of the Chloroplastida

While core components of plastid protein import (Toc and Tic) and the principle of using N-terminal targeting sequences (NTS) are conserved, lineage-specific differences are known. Rhodophytes and glaucophytes carry a conserved NTS motif, which was lost in the green lineage that also added novel proteins to Toc and Tic. Here we compare the components of plastid protein import and generated RNA-Seq, pigment profile and trans-electron microscopy data based on high-light stress from representatives of the three archaeplastidal groups. In light of plastid protein targeting, we compare the response to high-light stress of archaeplastidal representatives based on RNA-Seq, pigment profile and trans-electron microscopy data. Like land plants, the chlorophyte Chlamydomonas reinhardtii displays a broad respond to high-light stress, not observed to the same degree in the glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa or the rhodophyte Porphyridium purpureum. We find that only the green lineage encodes a conserved duplicate of the outer plastid membrane protein channel Oep80, namely Toc75 and suggest that the ability to respond to high-light stress entailed evolutionary changes in protein import, including the departure from phenylalanine-based targeting and the introduction of a green-specific Toc75 next to other import components unique to Chloroplastida. One consequence of relaxed NTS specificity was the origin of dual-targeting of plastid derived proteins to mitochondria and vice versa, using a single ambiguous NTS. Changes in the plastid protein import enabled the green lineage to import proteins at a more efficient rate, including those required for high-light stress response, a prerequisite for the colonization of land.High-lightsLoss of Phe-based N-terminal targeting sequences (NTS) triggered the origin of dual-targeting using a single ambiguous NTSThe Chloroplastida evolved a green-specific Toc75 for high throughput import, next to a universal and ancient Omp85 present in all ArchaeplastidaA broad response to high-light stress appears unique to ChloroplastidaRelaxation of functional constraints allowed a broader modification of the green Toc/Tic machineryCritical changes in plastid targeting enabled the origin and success of the Chloroplastida and their later conquer of land

Carotenoids of Capsicum Fruits: Pigment Profile and Health-Promoting Functional Attributes

Pepper of the Capsicum species is a common ingredient in various food preparations by different cultures worldwide. The Capsicum is recognised by its five main domesticated species, namely Capsicum annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. frutescens and C. pubescens. The genetic diversity in Capsicum offers fruits in wide ranges of morphology and carotenoid profile. Carotenoids enhance the value of pepper from a nutritional standpoint, despite being commonly prized for the pharmacologically active pungent capsaicinoids. Carotenoids of pepper comprise mainly of the unique, powerful and highly stable capsanthin and capsoroubin, together with β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin and violaxanthin. These carotenoids are present at diverse profile and varying levels, biosynthetically connected to the fruit maturity stages. This review describes the health-promoting functional attributes of the carotenoids that are mainly associated with their excellent role as lipophilic antioxidants. Capsicum as a great source of carotenoids is discussed in the aspects of main domesticated species, biosynthesis, pigment profile, antioxidant activity and safety. Findings from a number of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies provided appreciable evidence on the protective effects of pepper’s carotenoids against degenerative diseases. Hence, pepper with its functional carotenoids might be recommended in health-promoting and disease preventing strategies.