Sweet Potato Leaves Contain Beta Carotene and Lutein for Eye Health

This article discusses the benefits of sweet potato leaves containing beta carotene and lutein for eye health. There are some problems of eyes namely Conjunctivitis, Dry Eyes , Cataract, Glaucoma and Refractive errors (blurred vision). Treatment options include surgery, including laser and traditional eye surgery. Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene and anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants that can help prevent eyesight loss and support eye health. Beta carotene (provitamin A) and vitamin C are plentiful in yellow sweet potato. The beta carotene and lutein content is beneficial for eye health.

Effect of Scopoletin and Carotenoids on Postharvest Physiological Deterioration (PPD) of Transgenic High Beta Carotene Cassava

Cassava tubers suffer from postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) which normally sets in within 72 hours of harvest. This study examines the role of scopoletin and carotenoids in the onset or delay in PPD in two transgenic varieties EC20-7 and EC20-8 compared to a wild variety TME-7. Scopoletin and carotenoids were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The scopoletin content (0.10 – 0.20 nmol/g) in the fresh varieties was not significantly (P>0.05) different from the amount in stored cassava roots (12.58 – 14.90 nmol/g). The carotenoid content values in EC20-7 variety were 6.66 µg/g (α-carotene), 80.45 µg/g (β-carotene) and 5.98 µg/g (lutein). As for EC20-8, α-carotene, β-carotene and lutein values were 6.19 µg/g, 69.11 µg/g and 3.12 µg/g, respectively. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference between the varieties in α-carotene content but in their lutein content. The results indicate that carotenoids are more relevant in the delay of PPD and scopoletin content is not a major factor in PPD vascular streaking or discolouration. Hence scopoletin content of cassava varieties may not be considered as a chemical marker for determining the potential of PPD in cassava tubers.

Supercritical Assisted Production of Lutein-Loaded Liposomes and Modelling of Drug Release

In this work, a lipophilic ophthalmic drug, lutein, has been entrapped in liposomes, using a supercritical assisted process. Effects of pressure, temperature, and drug to lipid ratio variation were studied on mean diameters and lutein encapsulation efficiency. Liposomes with diameters between 153 ± 38 and 267 ± 56 nm were produced, and lutein encapsulation efficiencies between 86.5 ± 0.4% and 97.8 ± 1.2% were obtained. A Scanning Electron Microscope confirmed spherical shape and mean dimensions of vesicles. The variation of temperature for the production of liposomes showed a significant impact on lutein retention time in the double lipidic layer. Lutein drug release from liposomes produced at 35 °C ended in almost 4.5 days; whereas, liposomes produced at 40 °C showed a faster lutein release in 3 days; then, vesicles obtained at 45 °C released their lutein content in only 2 days. Drug release raw data were well-fitted using Weibull model (R2 up to 99%).

Challenges and Potential in Increasing Lutein Content in Microalgae

Research on enhancing lutein content in microalgae has made significant progress in recent years. However, strategies are needed to address the possible limitations of microalgae as practical lutein producers. The capacity of lutein sequestration may determine the upper limit of cellular lutein content. The preliminary estimation presented in this work suggests that the lutein sequestration capacity of the light-harvesting complex (LHC) of microalgae is most likely below 2% on the basis of dry cell weight (DCW). Due to its nature as a structural pigment, higher lutein content might interfere with the LHC in fulfilling photosynthetic functions. Storing lutein in a lipophilic environment is a mechanism for achieving high lutein content but several critical barriers must be overcome such as lutein degradation and access to lipid droplet to be stored through esterification. Understanding the mechanisms underlying lipid droplet biogenesis in chloroplasts, as well as carotenoid trafficking through chloroplast membranes and carotenoid esterification, may provide insight for new approaches to achieve high lutein contents in algae. In the meantime, building the machinery for esterification and sequestration of lutein and other hydroxyl-carotenoids in model microorganisms, such as yeast, with synthetic biology technology provides a promising option.

Photoprotective Strategies in Mediterranean High-Mountain Grasslands

Albeit the remarkably high Ultraviolet B loads, high temperatures, and drought stress substantiate the need for efficient photoprotective strategies in Mediterranean high-mountain plants, these remain understudied. Considering the sensitivity of photosystems to extreme conditions, we evaluated an environmental gradient’s weight on the photoprotection of five high-mountain specialists from Central Spain. Diurnal and seasonal variations in chlorophyll, chlorophyll fluorescence, carotenoids, and xanthophylls in consecutive and climatically contrasting years were taken to evaluate the effect of the impending climate coarsening at the photosystem level. Our results revealed significant differences among species in the xanthophyll cycle functioning, acting either as a continuous photoprotective strategy enhancing photochemistry-steadiness; or prompted only to counteract the cumulative effects of atypically adverse conditions. The lutein cycle’s involvement is inferred from the high lutein content found in all species and elevations, acting as a sustained photoprotective strategy. These findings added to high de-epoxidation state (DEPS) and minor seasonal changes in the chlorophyll a/b ratio, infer the xanthophyll and Lutein cycles are crucial for upkeeping the photosystems’ optimal functioning in these plants heightening their photoprotective capacity during periods of more unfavorable conditions. Nevertheless, an atypically dry growing season’s detrimental effect infers the feasible surpassing of stress-thresholds and the precariousness of the communities’ functional diversity under climate change.

Complex evaluation of calendula officinalis flowers by main biologically active substances content

Relevance. The demand for medicinal raw materials of Calendula officinalis L. is determined by the high content of pharmacologically significant compounds. Comparison of the most common ornamental cultivars of Calendula officinalis L.) in terms of yield and content of biologically active substances in the raw material helps to identify the most promising cultivars in terms of a set of indicators.Materials and methods.The decorative cultivars Apricot, Art Shads, Fiesta Gitana, Kabluna golden-yellow, Orange King, Orange Balls, Yellow Gitana and Golden Balls, characterized by large inflorescences and terry, were used as prototypes. The cultivar Kalta, widely used for the production of medicinal raw materials, was chosen as a control. The experiments were laid on the experimental plots of the Fruit Growing Laboratory of the Russian State Agricultural University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Productivity was determined as the total weight of inflorescences harvested during the entire season per unit area. The amount of flavonoids was determined by spectrophotometry. The amount of polysaccharides was determined according to the modified Draywood method. The lutein content was determined by HPLC.Results.To obtain inflorescences we can recommend to use the variety Orange King, which, with a satisfactory yield (0.363 kg/m2), was characterized by a high content of flavonoids (1.2%) and satisfactory (35.9%) extractives and corresponds to the quality of raw materials required by GF XIV. In addition, this variety was characterized by an increased content of polysaccharides (20.3%). The Varieties Apricot and Yellow Gitana were characterized by high productivity (562±49 and 507±41 g/m2, respectively). Their raw materials can be used by production of herbal teas, where the content of flavonoids is not regulated. As sources of lutein, one should pay attention to the ligulate flowers of the varieties Apricot, Fiesta Gitana, Golden balls. In the variety Kabluna, with the maximum lutein content, the proportion of reed flowers in the inflorescence was only 38%. In varieties with large inflorescences, the content of lutein in reed flowers was higher (R=0.685). Large non-double inflorescences will be most productive in this indicator.

Health-promoting Carotenoids and Phenolics in 31 Capsicum Accessions

This study investigated the diversity of carotenoids and phenolics in germplasm from three Capsicum (chile pepper) species, Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum, and Capsicum chinense. Lutein, a yellow-pigmented carotenoid, and phenolics, a group of secondary metabolites, are reported to have health-promoting properties. The germplasm studied matured to a yellow color. The hypothesis was that all yellow fruits would contain either the carotenoid lutein, a yellow pigment, or a large amount of phenolics, a group of secondary metabolites that may be yellow among other colors. Thirty-one Capsicum accessions were grown in the field over a period of two seasons. On a dry weight (DW) basis, lutein ranged from 0.14 to 94.2 μg·g−1, and total phenolics ranged from 5.79 to 15.01 mg·g−1. No lutein was detected in one accession and β-carotene, another health-promoting compound, was lacking in four accessions. Accessions were grouped into four groups according to a principal component analysis plot. Results from this study indicate that in only nine accessions, lutein represented at least 50% of the total carotenoid amounts in each accession. These accessions are desirable not only as a source of dietary lutein, a natural yellow pigment, but also as genetic material that can be used to breed for higher lutein Capsicum. Therefore, yellow color is not a good indicator of lutein content and phytochemical analysis is required to determine the content of health-promoting compounds.

Assessment of Antioxidant Potential of Lutein, a Retinol Equivalent Carotenoid in Medicinal Landrace of Rice ‘Kavuni’

Background: Indigenous traditional coloured rices are rich in dietary fibre, resistant starch, minerals, bioactive compounds and antioxidants like anthocyanins, luteins and phenols. Kavuni is one such brownish black medical landrace of rice considered as nutrition supplement since 400BC as it cures gastritis, peptic ulcer and also enhances blood circulation and known for its anti diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. Lutein is the only dietary oxycarotenoid found in both the macula and lens of the human eye, and acts as blocker of blue light damage, quench reactive oxygen species, prevent age related macular degeneration, cataracts, cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. Aim: The objective of the present investigation was to characterize the lutein content and antioxidant potential of Kavuni and released mega varieties of rice (ASD 16, Swarna Sub1) and its derivatives obtained from crosses ASD 16 and Kavuni; Swarna Sub1 and Kavuni. Methodology & Results: It was found that lutein (quantified by HPLC) was much higher in Kavuni (225 µg/100 g) compared with white rice varieties (ASD 16-15 µg/100g and Swarna Sub1-21 µg/100 g) and the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging ability (for quantification of antioxidant potential) were in the order (Kavuni >>ASD16, Swarna Sub1. Pigmented grain genotypes having higher lutein content had higher percentage of free radical scavenging activity of DPPH and lower IC50 values compared to non pigmented genotypes. Conclusion: It is conceivable that the medicinal landraces of rice could be exploited as one of the potential sources for plant - based pharmaceutical products.