Regulation of a novel DsGATA1 from Dunaliella salina on the synthesis of carotenoids under red light

Dunaliella salina is a high-quality industrial effector for carotenoid production. The mechanism by which red light regulates carotenoid synthesis is still unclear. In this study, a transcription factor of DsGATA1 with a distinct structure was discovered in D. salina. The recognition motif of DsGATA1 was comparable to that of plant and fungal GATA, despite its evolutionary proximity to animal-derived GATA. The expression of DsGATA1 in D. salina was still noticeably decreased when exposed to red light. Analysis of physiological and biochemical transcriptomic data from overexpressed, interfering, and wild-type strains of DsGATA1 revealed that DsGATA1 acts as a global regulator of D. salina carotenoid synthesis. The upregulated genes in the CBP pathway by DsGATA1 were involved in its regulation of the synthesis of carotenoids. DsGATA1 also enhanced carotenoid accumulation under red light by affecting N metabolism. DsGATA1 was found to directly bind to the promoter of nitrate reductase to activate its expression, promoting D. salina nitrate uptake and accelerating biomass accumulation. DsGATA1 affected the expression of the genes encoding GOGAT, GDH, and ammonia transporter proteins. Moreover, our study revealed that the regulation of N metabolism by DsGATA1 led to the production of NO molecules that inhibited carotenoid synthesis. However, DsGATA1 significantly enhanced carotenoid synthesis by NO scavenger removal of NO. The D. salina carotenoid accumulation under red light was elevated by 46% in the presence of overexpression of DsGATA1 and NO scavenger. Nevertheless, our results indicated that DsGATA1 could be an important target for engineering carotenoid production. KEY POINTS: • DsGATA1 with a distinct structure and recognition motif was found in D. salina • DsGATA1 enhanced carotenoid production and biomass in D. salina under red light • DsGATA1 is involved in the regulation of N metabolism and carotenoid synthesis.

β-Carotene and β-apo-8'-carotenal contents in processed foods in Korea

A robust and rapid HPLC method for β-carotene and β-apo-8'-carotenal analyses in various processed foods was developed. The analysis method was validated for low-fat, moderate-fat, and high-fat food matrices. The two carotenoids were identified by LC-MS/MS. The detection limits for β-carotene and β-apo-8'-carotenal in the three food matrices were 0.08-0.27 µg/g and 0.09-0.18 µg/g, respectively. The inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision were in accordance with the Codex guidelines. The validated method was applied to 57 processed food samples, possibly containing β-carotene and β-apo-8'-carotenal, obtained in Korea. The detected β-carotene and β-apo-8'-carotenal levels in the samples ranged from not detected (ND) to 6.92 µg/g and ND to 1.63 µg/g, respectively. Chocolate and cheese samples had the highest β-carotene and β-apo-8'-carotenal levels, respectively. Notably, several samples with no labeled carotenoid additives contained β-carotene. Moreover, the developed analytical method was compatible with various processed food matrices.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01285-2.

In vitro and in vivo glycemic responses and antioxidant potency of acorn and chickpea fortified gluten-free breads

Gluten-free (GF) breads, based on rice flour and corn starch (50:50), were fortified with a mixture of acorn flour (ACF) - chickpea flour (CPF) at 30% substitution level of corn starch (i.e., rice flour:corn starch:ACF-CPF 50:20:30) using different flour blends of ACF:CPF at weight ratios of 5:25, 7.5:22.5, 12.5:17.5, and 20:10 in order to improve the nutritional quality and antioxidant potential as well as the glycemic responses of the GF breads; a control GF bread with rice flour:corn starch 50:50 ratio was also prepared. ACF was richer in total phenolic content than CPF, whereas CPF was characterized by higher amounts of total tocopherols and lutein compared to ACF. For both ACF and CPF as well as the fortified breads, the most abundant phenolic compounds were gallic (GA) and ellagic (ELLA) acids as found by HPLC-DAD analysis, while a hydrolysable tannin, valoneic acid dilactone, was also identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS in high amount in the ACF-GF bread having the highest level of ACF (ACF:CPF 20:10), even though it seemed to decompose during breadmaking, possibly into GA and ELLA. Therefore, the inclusion of these two raw materials as ingredients in GF bread formulations resulted in baked products with enhanced concentrations of such bioactive compounds and higher antioxidant activities, as indicated by three different assays (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP). The extent of glucose release, as evaluated by an in vitro enzymic assay, was negatively correlated (r = -0.96; p = 0.005) with the level of added ACF, and was significantly reduced for all ACF-CPF fortified products when compared with their non-fortified GF counterpart. Furthermore, the GF bread containing a flour mixture of ACP:CPF at a weight ratio of 7.5:22.5, was subjected to an in vivo intervention protocol to assess the glycemic response when consumed by 12 healthy volunteers; in this case, white wheat bread was used as reference food. The glycemic index (GI) of the fortified bread was significantly lower compared to the control GF bread (97.4 versus 159.2, respectively), which along with its lower amount of available carbohydrates and the higher level of dietary fibers, resulted in a significantly reduced glycemic load (7.8 versus 18.8 g per serving of 30 g). The present findings underlined the effectiveness of acorn and chickpea flours in improving the nutritional quality and glycemic responses of fortified GF breads with these flours.

Description of Ornithinimicrobium cryptoxanthini sp. nov., a Novel Actinomycete Producing β-cryptoxanthin Isolated from the Tongtian River Sediments

Two novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile, and yellow-pigmented, irregular rod-shaped bacteria (JY.X269 and JY.X270^T) were isolated from the near-surface sediments of river in Qinghai Province, P. R. China (32°37'13″N, 96°05'37″E) in July 2019. Both strains were shown to grow at 15-35 °C and pH 7.0-10.0, and in the presence of 0-6.0% (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolates were closely related to Ornithinimicrobium cavernae CFH 30183 ^T (98.6-98.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), O. ciconiae H23M54^T (98.5-98.6%) and O. murale 01-Gi-040^T (98.3-98.5%). The phylogenetic and phylogenomic trees based on the 16S rRNA gene and 537 core gene sequences, respectively, revealed that the two strains formed a distinct cluster with the above three species. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between our two isolates (JY.X269 and JY.X270^T) and other Ornithinimicrobium species were within the ranges of 19.0-23.9% and 70.8-80.4%, respectively, all below the respective recommended 70.0% and 95-96% cutoff point. Furthermore, the major cellular fatty acids (> 10.0%) of strains JY.X269 and JY.X270^T were iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, and summed feature 9. Strain JY.X270^T contained MK-8(H₄) and ornithine as the predominant menaquinone and diagnostic diamino acid component within the cell wall teichoic acids. β-cryptoxanthin (C₄₀H₅₆O) can be extracted from strain JY.X270^T, and its content is 6.3 µg/ml. Based on results from the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic analyses, the two strains could be classified as a novel species of the genus Ornithinimicrobium, for which the name Ornithinimicrobium cryptoxanthini sp. nov. is proposed (type strain JY.X270^T = CGMCC 1.19147^T = JCM 34882^T).

Morphological and genomic characteristics of two novel actinomycetes, Ornithinimicrobium sufpigmenti sp. nov. and Ornithinimicrobium faecis sp. nov. isolated from bat faeces (Rousettus leschenaultia and Taphozous perforates)

Four Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-motile, circle-shaped bacteria were isolated from the faeces of bats (Rousettus leschenaultia and Taphozous perforates) collected from Guangxi autonomous region (E106°49'20″, N22°20'54″) and Yunnan province (E102°04'39″, N25°09'10″) of South China. Strains HY006^T and HY008 shared highly 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to those of Ornithinimicrobium pratense W204^T (99.3%) and O. flavum CPCC 203535^T (97.3%), while the strains HY1745 and HY1793^T were closest to the type strains O. ciconiae H23M54^T (98.7%), O. cavernae CFH 30183^T (98.3%), and O. murale 01-Gi-040^T (98.1%). Furthermore, when compared to the other members of the genus Ornithinimicrobium, the digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values of the four novel strains were within the ranges of 19.6-33.7% and 70.6-87.4%, respectively, both of which were below the respective recommended cutoff values of 70.0% and 95-96%. Significantly, strain HY006^T was resistant to chloramphenicol and linezolid whereas strain HY1793^T was resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin (intermediately), and levofloxacin (intermediately). The main cellular fatty acids (>20.0%) of our isolates were iso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0. Strains HY006^T and HY1793^T contained ornithine as the diagnostic diamino acid, also along with the alanine, glycine and glutamic acid in their cell wall. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses, these four strains could be classified as two novel species of the genus Ornithinimicrobium, for which the names Ornithinimicrobium sufpigmenti sp. nov. and Ornithinimicrobium faecis sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are HY006^T (=CGMCC 1.16565^T =JCM 33397^T) and HY1793^T (=CGMCC 1.19143^T =JCM 34881^T), respectively.

Comparative Assessment of Functional Components and Antioxidant Activities between Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. sinensis and H. tibetana Berries in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the main production area of Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. sinensis (Rha) and H. tibetana (Tib), but studies on the types and contents of soluble sugars, organic acids, free phenolics, bound phenolics, vitamin C (V_C), tocopherol (V_E) and carotenoids of the two sea buckthorn berries from this region have not been reported. In this paper, we found that the soluble sugars in Rha and Tib were mainly glucose and fructose; Rha exhibited a higher content of total sugar and fructose compared to Tib. The organic acids were mainly quinic acid and malic acid; Rha exhibited a higher content of total acids and quinic acid, but lower tartaric acid and citric acid compared to Tib. Rha also possessed a higher total (free and bound) phenolic as well as total (free and bound) flavonoid content than those in Tib; twelve phenolic compounds were analyzed, among which flavonols were dominant. Catechin, isorhamnetin and quercetin were the main phenolic substances. V_C and V_E (γ-tocopherol (γ-V_E) and δ-tocopherol (δ-V_E)) were higher in Rha than Tib. The total carotenoid, lutein, β-carotene and lycopene content of Tib was remarkably higher than that in Rha. Moreover, both Rha and Tib showed good in vitro and cellular antioxidant activities, and Rha had a stronger antioxidant activity. Taken together, Rha had a higher antioxidant activity, which may be due to its higher content of phenolics, flavonoids, V_C and V_E.

DsLCYB Directionally Modulated β-Carotene of the Green Alga Dunaliella salina under Red Light Stress

Carotenoids, which are natural pigments found abundantly in wide-ranging species, have diverse functions and high industrial potential. The carotenoid biosynthesis pathway is very complex and has multiple branches, while the accumulation of certain metabolites often affects other metabolites in this pathway. The DsLCYB gene that encodes lycopene cyclase was selected in this study to evaluate β-carotene production and the accumulation of β-carotene in the alga Dunaliella salina. Compared with the wild type, the transgenic algal species overexpressed the DsLCYB gene, resulting in a significant enhancement of the total carotenoid content, with the total amount reaching 8.46 mg/g for an increase of up to 1.26-fold. Interestingly, the production of α-carotene in the transformant was not significantly reduced. This result indicated that the regulation of DsLCYB on the metabolic flux distribution of carotenoid biosynthesis is directional. Moreover, the effects of different light-quality conditions on β-carotene production in D. salina strains were investigated. The results showed that the carotenoid components of β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin were 1.8-fold and 1.23-fold higher than that in the wild type under red light stress, respectively. This suggests that the accumulation of β-carotene under red light conditions is potentially more profitable.

Free and Esterified Tocopherols, Tocotrienols and Other Extractable and Non-Extractable Tocochromanol-Related Molecules: Compendium of Knowledge, Future Perspectives and Recommendations for Chromatographic Techniques, Tools, and Approaches Used for Tocochromanol Determination

Free and esterified (bound) tocopherols, tocotrienols and other tocochromanol-related compounds, often referred to "tocols", are lipophilic antioxidants of great importance for health. For instance, α-tocopherol is the only tocochromanol with vitamin E activity, while tocotrienols have a positive impact on health and are proposed in the prevention and therapy of so-called modern diseases. Tocopherols, tocotrienols and plastochromanol-8 are the most well-known tocochromanols; in turn, knowledge about tocodienols, tocomonoenols, and other rare tocochromanol-related compounds is limited due to several challenges in analytical chemistry and/or low concentration in plant material. The presence of free, esterified, and non-extractable tocochromanols in plant material as well as their biological function, which may be of great scientific, agricultural and medicinal importance, is also poorly studied. Due to the lack of modern protocols as well as equipment and tools, for instance, techniques suitable for the efficient and simultaneous chromatographical separation of major and minor tocochromanols, the topic requires attention and new solutions, and/or standardization, and proper terminology. This review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different chromatographic techniques, tools and approaches used for the separation and detection of different tocochromanols in plant material and foodstuffs. Sources of tocochromanols and procedures for obtaining different tocochromanol analytical standards are also described. Finally, future challenges are discussed and perspective green techniques for tocochromanol determination are proposed along with best practice recommendations. The present manuscript aims to present key aspects and protocols related to tocochromanol determination, correct identification, and the interpretation of obtained results.

Genetic dissection of lutein content in common wheat via association and linkage mapping

Genetic architecture controlling grain lutein content of common wheat was investigated through an integration of genome-wide association study (GWAS) and linkage analysis. Putative candidate genes involved in carotenoid metabolism and regulation were identified, which provide a basis for gene cloning and development of nutrient-enriched wheat varieties through molecular breeding. Lutein, known as 'the eye vitamin', is an important component of wheat nutritional and end-use quality. However, the genetic manipulation of grain lutein content (LUC) in common wheat has not previously been well studied. Here, quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the LUC measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were first identified by integrating a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and linkage mapping. A Chinese wheat mini-core collection (MCC) of 262 accessions and a doubled haploid (DH) population derived from Jinchun 7 and L1219 were genotyped using the 90K SNP array. A total of 124 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) on all 21 wheat chromosomes except for 1A, 4D, and 5B that formed 58 QTL were detected. Among them, six stable QTL were identified on chromosomes 2AL, 2DS, 3BL, 3DL, 7AL, and 7BS. Meanwhile, three of the ten QTL identified in the DH population, QLuc.5A.1 and QLuc.5A.2 on chromosome 5AL and QLuc.6A.2 on 6AS, were stable and independently explained 5.58-10.86% of the phenotypic variation. The QLuc.6A.2 region colocalized with two MTAs identified by GWAS. Moreover, 71 carotenoid metabolism-related candidate genes were identified, and the allelic effects were analyzed in the MCC panel based on the 90K array. Results revealed that the genes CYP97A3 (Chr. 6B) and CCD1 (Chr. 5A) were significantly associated with LUC. Additionally, the gene PSY3 (QLuc.5A.1) and several candidate genes involved in the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathways colocalized with stable QTL regions. The present study provides potential targets for future functional gene exploration and molecular breeding in common wheat.

Phenotypic and genomic characteristics of Brevibacterium zhoupengii sp. nov., a novel halotolerant actinomycete isolated from bat feces

Two strictly aerobic, Gram-staining-positive, non-spore-forming, regular rod-shaped (approximately 0.7 × 1.9 mm) bacteria (HY170^T and HY001) were isolated from bat feces collected from Chongzuo city, Guangxi province (22°20′54″N, 106°49′20″E, July 2011) and Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province (25°09′10″N, 102°04′39″E, October 2013) of South China, respectively. Optimal growth is obtained at 25–28°C (range, 4–32°C) on BHI-5% sheep blood plate with pH 7.5 (range, 5.0–10.0) in the presence of 0.5–1.0% NaCl (w/v) (range, 0–15% NaCl [w/v]). The phylogenetic and phylogenomic trees based respectively on the 16S rRNA gene and 845 core gene sequences revealed that the two strains formed a distinct lineage within the genus Brevibacterium, most closely related to B. aurantiacum NCDO 739^T (16S rRNA similarity, both 98.5%; dDDH, 46.7–46.8%; ANI, 91.9–92.1%). Strain HY170^T contained MK-8(H₂), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG), galactose and ribose as the predominant menaquinone, major polar lipids, and main sugars in the cell wall teichoic acids, respectively. The meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP) was the diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan found in strain HY170^T. Anteiso-C_15:0 and anteiso-C_17:0 were the major fatty acids (> 10%) of strains HY170^T and HY001, with anteiso-C_17:1A predominant in strain HY170^T but absent in strain HY001. Mining the genomes revealed the presence of secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters encoding for non-alpha poly-amino acids (NAPAA), ectoine, siderophore, and terpene. Based on results from the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses, the two strains could be classified as a novel species of the genus Brevibacterium, for which the name Brevibacterium zhoupengii sp. nov. is proposed (type strain HY170^T = CGMCC 1.18600^T = JCM 34230^T).

Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase 1 Catalyzes Lutein Degradation To Influence Carotenoid Accumulation and Color Development in Foxtail Millet Grains

Foxtail millet is a minor but economically important crop in certain regions of the world. Millet color is often used to judge grain quality, yet the molecular determinants of millet coloration remain unclear. Here, we explored the relationship between SiCCD1 and millet coloration in yellow and white millet varieties. Carotenoid levels declined with grain maturation and were negatively correlated with SiCCD1 expression, which was significantly higher in white millet as compared to yellow millet during the color development stage. Cloning of the SiCCD1 promoter and CDS sequences from these different millet varieties revealed the presence of two additional cis-regulatory elements within the SiCCD1 promoter in white millet varieties, including an enhancer-like GC motif element associated with anoxic specific inducibility and a GCN4-motif element associated with endosperm expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that SiCCD1 promoter fragments containing these additional cis-acting elements derived from white millet varieties were significantly more active than those from yellow millet varieties, consistent with the observed SiCCD1 expression patterns. Further in vitro enzyme detection assays confirmed that SiCCD1 primarily targets and degrades lutein. Together, these data suggest that SiCCD1 promoter variation was a key factor associated with the observed differences in SiCCD1 expression, which in turn led to the difference in millet coloration.

Rapid green microwave assisted extraction of lutein from Chlorella sorokiniana (NIOT-2) - Process optimization

Chloropycean microalgae are looked up as a prospective alternate source for the production of xanthophyll carotenoid lutein. Despite, the market significance and multitude of nutraceutical applications of lutein commercial production from microalgae still remains a challenge due to the prohibitive downstream cost. This necessitates innovative less energy intensive, high lutein yielding green processes. The present work presents a comprehensive study on the rapid green microwave assisted extraction (MAE) of lutein from marine chlorophycean microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana (NIOT-2). The process parameters of microwave assisted alkali pre-treatment like exposure time (ET), alkali concentration (AC) and solid (biomass): liquid (aqueous Potassium hydroxide-KOH) ratio (S: L ratio) were optimized using single factor and response surface method (RSM) experiments. The optimized conditions for microwave assisted alkali pre-treatment (ET:1.47 min; AC: 8.16 M KOH and S:L ratio of 36.8:1 (mg/mL) augmented the lutein yield (20.69 ± 1.2 mg/g) 3.26 fold when compared to conventional extraction (6.35 ± 0.44 mg/g). Lutein extracted using optimized MAE conditions was purified and characterized. Visualization of the MAE extracted algal biomass using Scanning electron microscope confirmed the effective cell disruption. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of microwave assisted alkali treated biomass (83.85%) revealed a significantly higher crystallinity index when compared to untreated control (17.28%). MAE pre-treatment can thus be propounded as a suitable process for lutein extraction from marine microalgae due to its amalgamated rapidity, homogenous heating, less energy intensiveness and high extraction yield.

Development of highly hydrophobic fabric phase sorptive extraction membranes and exploring their applications for the rapid determination of tocopherols in edible oils analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography-diode array detection

Α novel, green, and facile fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) prior to high pressure liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) methodology was developed for the efficient extraction and quantitative determination of tocopherols (α-, sum of (β+γ), and δ-) in edible oils. Among several highly hydrophobic FPSE membranes, sol-gel polycaprolactone-polydimethylsiloxane-polycaprolactone (sol-gel PCAP-PDMS-PCAP) coated polyester FPSE membrane was found as the most efficient in extracting tocopherol homologues from edible oil samples. To maximize the extraction efficiency of FPSE membrane, major parameters of FPSE including the membrane size, sample loading time, the choice of the appropriate elution solvent and the elution solvent volume, desorption time, and the influence of stirring were systematically optimized. The developed FPSE-HPLC-DAD methodology was validated and presented adequately low limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) over the ranges 0.05-0.10 μg/g, and 0.17-0.33 μg/g, respectively. The RSD% of the within-day and between-day assays were lower than 1.3, and 11.8, respectively, demonstrating good method precision. The trueness of the method was assessed by means of relative percentage of recovery and ranged between 90.8 and 95.1% for within-day assay, and between 88.7-92.8% for between-day assay. The developed methodology was applied in the analysis of edible oils.

An Efficient Solid-Phase Extraction-Based Liquid Chromatography Method to Simultaneously Determine Diastereomers α-Tocopherol, Other Tocols, and Retinol Isomers in Infant Formula

The separation and simultaneous quantitation of diastereomers of DL-α-tocopherol, eight tocol forms, and retinols (trans and cis) have been conducted by reversed-phase liquid chromatography followed by solid-phase extraction. A chiral silica stationary phase modified with polysaccharide derivative on the monodisperse macroporous silica gel (Unichiral OD-5H column, 150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm, NanoMicro Technology Co., Ltd.) was employed for eluting each target compound. Instead of conventional solvent extract, a green and eco-friendly solid-phase extraction column, packing with nonpolar polystyrene divinylbenzene, was optimized in terms of capacity and solvent used in steps. Validation of the method was examined and confirmed to be satisfactory, with excellent linearity regression (r > 0.9999), acceptable accuracy (74.66%∼112.92%), and precision (0.20%∼10.52%) results. Limit of detection ranged from 0.05 mg·kg−1 (retinols) to 0.4 mg·kg−1 (tocols). The method was checked by infant formula reference material SRM 1849a as well, which illustrated good agreement of mass fraction with certified value and enriched the important isomer data.

Influence of refining processes on the bioactive composition, in vitro antioxidant capacity, and their correlation of perilla seed oil

The effect of chemical refining process on the bioactive composition, in vitro antioxidant capacity, and their correlation of perilla seed oil (PSO) were investigated. In this paper, seven samples corresponding to each step of the refining process (degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, winterization, crude, and refined oils) were studied. The results showed that phenolic compounds and tocopherols were removed from PSO to a degree of 19.4% and 5.4%, respectively. In addition, the carotenoid content of PSO decreased during the refining process. The main carotenoid of PSO was found to be lutein, and the compound was lost completely during the bleaching step of the refining process. In this paper, we analyzed the variation of carotenoid content in PSO during the refining process for the first time. Neutralization affected the contents of phytosterols the most, followed by the effects of degumming and bleaching. The demonstrated results of Pearson product-moment correlation indicated that total tocopherols were significantly correlated with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) values, whereas carotenoids were significantly correlated with the DPPH value. However, phenolic compounds and phytosterols have no significant difference with DPPH, 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, ORAC, and ferric reducing antioxidant power values. The collected information can be applied to seeking out optimum factors needed to suffice the fundamental requirements for PSO production and minimize micronutrient losses to enhance its market value. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The present study aimed to determine influence of chemical refining in the bioactive composition of perilla seed oil (PSO) as well as its antioxidant capacity in vitro. Moreover, we also intend to find the correlation between them. Results indicated that this study supplies a good reference for the industrial parameters of the refining process to minimize micronutrient losses and further obtain high-quality PSO products for consumers.

Advancing provitamin A biofortification in sorghum: Genome-wide association studies of grain carotenoids in global germplasm

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies worldwide. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench)] is a major cereal crop consumed by millions of people in regions with high vitamin A deficiency. We quantified carotenoid concentrations in a diverse sorghum panel using high-performance liquid chromatography and conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of grain carotenoids to identify genes underlying carotenoid variation. There was moderate variation for β-carotene (00.8 μg g^-1 ), lutein (0.3-9.4 μg g^-1 ), and zeaxanthin (0.2-9.1 μg g^-1 ), but β-cryptoxanthin and α-carotene were nearly undetectable. Genotype had the largest effect size, at 81% for zeaxanthin, 62% for β-carotene, and 53% for lutein. Using multiple models, GWAS identified several significant associations between carotenoids and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), some of which colocalized with known carotenoid genes that have not been previously implicated in carotenoid variation. Several of the candidate genes identified have also been identified in maize (Zea mays L.) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) carotenoid GWAS studies. Notably, an SNP inside the putative ortholog of maize zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) had the most significant association with zeaxanthin and with the ratio between lutein and zeaxanthin, suggesting that ZEP is a major gene controlling sorghum carotenoid variation. Overall findings suggest there is oligogenic inheritance for sorghum carotenoids and suitable variation for marker-assisted selection. The high carotenoid germplasm and significant associations identified in this study can be used in biofortification efforts to improve the nutritional quality of sorghum.

Green Chemistry Extractions of Carotenoids from Daucus carota L.-Supercritical Carbon Dioxide and Enzyme-Assisted Methods

Multiple reviews have been published on various aspects of carotenoid extraction. Nevertheless, none of them focused on the discussion of recent green chemistry extraction protocols, especially for the carotenoids extraction from Daucus carota L. This group of bioactive compounds has been chosen for this review since most of the scientific papers proved their antioxidant properties relevant for inflammation, stress-related disorders, cancer, or neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, such as stroke and Alzheimer's Disease. Besides, carrots constitute one of the most popular sources of carotenoids. In the presented review emphasis has been placed on the supercritical carbon dioxide and enzyme-assisted extraction techniques for the relevant tetraterpenoids. The detailed descriptions of these methods, as well as practical examples, are provided. In addition, the pros and cons of each method and comparison with the standard solvent extraction have been discussed.

Carotenoid Pigment Content in Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum): An Overview of Quantitative Trait Loci and Candidate Genes

Carotenoid pigment content is an important quality trait as it confers a natural bright yellow color to pasta preferred by consumers (whiteness vs. yellowness) and nutrients, such as provitamin A and antioxidants, essential for human diet. The main goal of the present review is to summarize the knowledge about the genetic regulation of the accumulation of pigment content in durum wheat grain and describe the genetic improvements obtained by using breeding approaches in the last two decades. Although carotenoid pigment content is a quantitative character regulated by various genes with additive effects, its high heritability has facilitated the durum breeding progress for this quality trait. Mapping research for yellow index and yellow pigment content has identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) on all wheat chromosomes. The major QTL, accounting for up to 60%, were mapped on 7L homoeologous chromosome arms, and they are explained by allelic variations of the phytoene synthase (PSY) genes. Minor QTL were detected on all chromosomes and associated to significant molecular markers, indicating the complexity of the trait. Despite there being currently a better knowledge of the mechanisms controlling carotenoid content and composition, there are gaps that require further investigation and bridging to better understand the genetic architecture of this important trait. The development and the utilization of molecular markers in marker-assisted selection (MAS) programs for improving grain quality have been reviewed and discussed.

Aromatic plants of Lamiaceae family in a traditional bread recipe: Effects on quality and phytochemical content

The incorporation of aromatic plants of Lamiaceae family (oregano, thyme, and Satureja) in a wheat bread was investigated for the effect on the total phenolics, the profile of phenolics, and their free radical scavenging activities. In addition, the influence on dough and bread quality characteristics such as color, gas cells structure, bread texture, degree of staling, and acceptability to consumers was studied. The volume of the fortified breads with dried aromatic plants was slightly decreased and their crumbs were firmer and darker than that of the control bread, yet sensory testing panelists scored them as more aromatic and better tasting. Aromatic plants increased the content of bioactive and antioxidant compounds in the bread though the baking procedure negatively affected the level of these compounds; incorporation of the herbs in a dry form was more effective. The major phenolics detected were carvacrol, rosmarinic acid, and naringenin which have potential health benefits for the consumer. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family are very rich in phytochemicals with high antioxidant activity. Wheat grains contain significant levels of natural antioxidants such as ferulic acid, tocopherols, and tocotrienols. In contrast, the content of these phytochemicals in the refined flour that is used for the production of traditional bread is much lower since the bran and embryo fractions rich in those compounds are removed during the milling process. The introduction of phytochemicals in the bread recipe will increase the nutritional quality of the final bread and at the same time increase the daily intake of substances with health benefits since bread is consumed daily. Consumption of breads enriched with aromatic plants could be a new way to deliver valuable phytochemicals to consumers and fulfill the increasing consumers' demand for functional foods.

Rapid Separation of All Four Tocopherol Homologues in Selected Fruit Seeds via Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Using a Solid-Core C18 Column

Tocopherol separations employing the same Kinetex™ C18 column via supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) were compared. The application of the SFC system with UV diode array detection (DAD) resulted in rapid separation of all four tocopherol homologues with a total analysis time below 2 min. The RP-LC approach could not separate the isomers β and γ. The developed SFC-DAD method was precise, accurate, and most importantly more environmentally friendlier compared to the RP-LC method due to the 125-fold decrease in methanol consumption. The present study illustrated the selectivity differences between LC and SFC and how the C18 column can be used for tocopherol characterization. The optimized SFC method was successfully applied for the tocopherol determination in the seeds of nine different fruit species.

Macular carotenoids in lipid food matrices: DOE-based high energy extraction of egg yolk xanthophylls and quantification through a validated APCI(+) LC-MS/MS method

Lutein and zeaxanthin exhibit significant biological activities therefore their dietary intake through carotenoid-rich foods and supplements is strongly recommended as preventive approach. Hence their extraction from natural substrates targets to their commercial exploitation as nutraceuticals and ocular pharmaceuticals. Since carotenoids' bioavailability is higher in fat-containing substrates, egg yolk is considered an ideal food matrix. DOE-based optimization of novel high energy extraction practices achieves efficient recovery of xanthophylls from lipid sources. In this research, 2³ full factorial and Box-Behnken designs (BBD) were applied for optimizing ultrasound- (UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) variables (i.e. extraction solvent, temperature, time, US or MW power and solvent/material ratio). LC-MS/MS results pointed out the precedence of UAE in lutein and zeaxanthin extraction, where higher yields were obtained with 1:1 n-hexane-acetone as solvent mixture at 19 min, 600 W and 35 mL g^-1. UAE carotenoid content was higher than MAE due to the different mechanisms laying behind the two processes and due to more complete granule rupture caused by higher US power. Evaluating the current results, DOE-based UAE analytical methodology stands out as an auspicious and sustainable alternative for commercial-based extraction of lipidic bioactive compounds for food and drug industrial applications.

Selected Methods of Extracting Carotenoids, Characterization, and Health Concerns: A Review

Carotenoids are the most powerful nutrients (medicine) on earth due to their potent antioxidant properties. The ability of these tetraterpenoids in obviating human chronic ailments like cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes has drawn public attention toward these novel compounds. Conventionally, carotenoids have been extracted from plant materials and agro-industrial byproduct using different solvents, but these procedures result in contaminating the target compound (carotenoids) with extraction solvents. Furthermore, some utilized solvents are not safe and hence are harmful to the environment. This has attracted criticism from consumers, ecologists, environmentalists, and public health workers. However, there is clear consumer preference for carotenoids from natural origin without traces of extracting solvent. Therefore, this review seeks to discuss methods for higher recovery of pure carotenoids without contamination from a solvent. Methods such as enzyme-based extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, Soxhlet extraction, ultrasonic extraction, and postextraction treatment (saponification) are discussed. Merits and demerits of these methods along with health concerns during intake of carotenoids were also considered.

A Review of the Extraction and Determination Methods of Thirteen Essential Vitamins to the Human Body: An Update from 2010

Vitamins are a class of essential nutrients in the body; thus, they play important roles in human health. The chemicals are involved in many physiological functions and both their lack and excess can put health at risk. Therefore, the establishment of methods for monitoring vitamin concentrations in different matrices is necessary. In this review, an updated overview of the main pretreatments and determination methods that have been used since 2010 is given. Ultrasonic assisted extraction, liquid–liquid extraction, solid phase extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction are the most common pretreatment methods, while the determination methods involve chromatography methods, electrophoretic methods, microbiological assays, immunoassays, biosensors and several other methods. Different pretreatments and determination methods are discussed.

Ionization of tocopherols and tocotrienols in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

RATIONALE

Tocopherols and tocotrienols are chemical compounds insusceptible to the ionization process under atmospheric pressure conditions. Therefore, the selection of the optimal ion source settings for their quantification requires special attention. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of the APCI source parameters on the response of tocochromanols and two related compounds.

METHODS

Standard solutions of target compounds were injected on the high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS/MS) system separately and analysed with 30 randomly selected ion source settings. The obtained responses were modelled by multivariate linear regression with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. The developed models were used to choose the best APCI conditions.

RESULTS

Multivariate linear models were built for eight tocochromanols, trolox and BHT. The APCI settings derived from the models did not increase the peak areas obtained for T and T3 during the ionization process. Ionization conditions based on models for trolox and BHT improved analytical responses by 12-36% and 4-32%, respectively. The application of the ion source settings optimal for trolox and BHT to tocochromanols did not result in better analytical responses.

CONCLUSIONS

The ionization pattern of tocochromanols in the APCI source is problematic and should be further investigated. Modelling methodology for response improvement presented in this study can be applied in similar studies.

Tocotrienols and tocopherols in colored-grain wheat, tritordeum and barley

Colored-grain spring and winter wheat, spring tritordeum and barley (blue aleurone, purple pericarp, and yellow endosperm) from the harvests 2014 and 2015 were evaluated for tocol contents by HPLC-FD. Higher content of total tocols was found in spring wheat varieties compared with winter varieties. Four tocols (β-tocotrienol, α-tocotrienol, β-tocopherol, and α-tocopherol) were identified in wheat and tritordeum varieties. Dominant tocols in purple- and blue-grained wheat and yellow-grained tritordeum were α-tocopherol and β-tocotrienol, whereas spring barley varieties differed from wheat and tritordeum by high α-tocotrienol content. Tocol content was significantly affected by genotype and in a lesser extent in some varieties and lines also by rainfall and temperatures during crop year. Higher rainfall and lower temperatures caused in most varieties higher tocol contents. Purple- and blue-grained wheat lines with higher tocol, anthocyanin and phenolic acids with health benefits may be useful for breeding new varieties.

Carotenoid Content in Organically Produced Wheat: Relevance for Human Nutritional Health on Consumption

In this study, 33 spring and winter wheat genotypes were analyzed for carotenoid content and composition. Investigated genotypes were divided into four genotype groups i.e., spelt, landraces, old cultivars and primitive wheat. The results showed a high level of variation among the genotypes in amount of carotenoids in the grain with high values (around 4 mg/Kg) especially in one of the genotypes—Öland 8. Lutein was the most common carotenoid in all the investigated genotypes, contributing 70%–90% of the carotenoids in the grain. Variation in carotenoid content and composition was found not only among genotypes, but also between genotype groups and wheat type, although there is a need to analyze more genotypes to confirm the differences found between groups and types. This study showed that 40% of the daily requirements of lutein can be achieved from the genotypes with the highest lutein content (Öland 8) produced using organic farming through the average human consumption of 200 grams of wheat per day. Furthermore, this study showed, by the use of principal component analyses, an opportunity to select genotypes combining high values of certain nutritional compounds. By a further breeding and commercial production of such genotypes, the nutritional value of wheat flour for human consumption can be improved.

Carotenoids of aleurone, germ, and endosperm fractions of barley, corn and wheat differentially inhibit oxidative stress

The antioxidant potential of carotenoids from aleurone, germ, and endosperm fractions of barley, corn, and wheat has been evaluated. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids (nd-15139 μg/kg) in extracts of cereal grain fractions. The antioxidant properties using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, oxygen radical absorbance capacity, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays revealed significantly higher (P<0.001) antioxidant activity in the germ than in the aleurone and endosperm fractions. Using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 2,2'azobis (2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced cell loss was effectively reduced by preincubating Caco-2, HT-29, and FHs 74 Int cells with carotenoid extracts. Moreover, carotenoid extracts reduced (P<0.001) AAPH-induced intracellular oxidation in the cell lines, suggesting antioxidant activity. Of the 84 antioxidant pathway genes included in microarray array analysis (HT-29 cells), the expressions of 28 genes were enhanced (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that carotenoids of germ, aleurone, and endosperm fractions improved antioxidant capacity and thus have the potential to mitigate oxidative stress.

Preparation of 4-butylaniline-bonded attapulgite for pre-concentration of bisphenol A in trace quantity

Ring-opening reaction with synchronous hydrolysis was used to prepare 4-butylaniline-modified attapulgite (abbreviated as BA-ATP) for pre-concentration of bisphenol A (BPA) in trace quantity. The preparation was achieved under mild condition, and the material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and scanning electron microscopy. BA-ATP was used in solid phase extraction (SPE), and SPE was performed in a neutral condition without regard to ionic strength. The results indicate that BA-ATP has high affinity to BPA with a maximum adsorption amount of 44mg g(-1), and the adsorption can be described by Langmuir isotherm model. The content of bisphenol A in water samples was analyzed by HPLC method with the pre-concentration using BA-ATP. The limit of detection (LOD) can be as low as 3.9ng mL(-1), and the average recoveries are in a range of 93-97% with relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 2%.

Green extraction methods and environmental applications of carotenoids-a review

This review covers and discusses various aspects of carotenoids including their chemistry, classification, biosynthesis, extraction methods (conventional and non-conventional), analytical techniques and biological roles in living beings.

Simultaneous analysis of carotenoids and tocopherols in botanical species using one step solid-liquid extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography

Carotenoids and tocopherols from botanical species abundant in Atlantic mountain grasslands were simultaneously extracted using one-step solid-liquid phase. A single n-hexane/2-propanol extract containing both types of compounds was injected twice under two different sets of HPLC conditions to separate the tocopherols by normal-phase chromatography and carotenoids by reverse-phase mode. The method allowed reproducible quantification in plant samples of very low amounts of α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherols (LOD from 0.0379 to 0.0720 μg g(-1) DM) and over 15 different xanthophylls and carotene isomers. The simplified one-step extraction without saponification significantly increased the recovery of tocopherols and carotenoids, thereby enabling the determination of α-tocopherol acetate in plant samples. The two different sets of chromatographic analysis provided near baseline separation of individual compounds without interference from other lipid compounds extracted from plants, and a very sensitive and accurate detection of tocopherols and carotenoids. The detection of minor individual components in botanical species from grasslands is nowadays of high interest in searching for biomarkers for foods derived from grazing animals.