Synergistic effects of carotenoids: Therapeutic benefits on human health

Therapeutic Uses of Retinol and Retinoid-Related Antioxidants

Retinol and retinol-related compounds are essential for human health, particularly in cellular protection, skin health, and the management of medical conditions. Retinol-a vital form of vitamin A-is obtained through the diet as preformed vitamin A or provitamin A carotenoids, retinyl esters. These compounds are indispensable for vision, immune function, and skin health. While retinoic acid has important known biological roles, its presence is limited in the body as it is rapidly metabolized rather than stored, emphasizing the need for sufficient dietary intake. This paper is divided into chapters that highlight important aspects of retinol and retinoid-related compounds, such as their sufficient intake through food sources. The nutritional value of carotenoids is influenced by the balance between trans- and cis-isomers in food, with food processing affecting their bioactivity. Next, it is metabolism in the digestive tract. The bioavailability and efficacy of retinoids are further influenced by gut microbiota, which can modulate immune function and the expression of the genes involved in retinoid metabolism. A third important property greatly influencing their biological function is their structure, predisposing them to certain biological activities. Both retinoids and carotenoids exert key antioxidant functions by protecting cells from oxidative damage, quenching singlet oxygen, and stabilizing free radicals. However, the oxidation of carotenoids can result in various metabolites, such as epoxides and hydroxyketones, that further create a higher demand for antioxidant defenses. Additionally, carotenoids interact with lipoxygenases (LOXs), thus influencing oxidative stress, although this interaction may reduce their antioxidant efficacy. First- and second-generation retinoids regulate gene expression related to skin cell function and oncological diseases. Despite their therapeutic benefits, long-term use carries risks, such as teratogenicity. Ongoing research should aim to enhance the safety, precision, and effectiveness of retinoid therapies, expanding their therapeutic potential.

Neuroprotective Potential of Tetraselmis chuii Compounds: Insights into Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability and Intestinal Transport

Background/Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, characterized by complex processes such as neuro-inflammation, oxidative damage, synaptic loss, and neuronal death. Carotenoids are among the potential therapeutic molecules that have attracted attention due to their neuroprotective properties, but their efficacy is limited mainly by their capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Results: The results showed that T. chuii extracts could protect neuronal cells from neurotoxic damage, especially against L-glutamate and H2O2. Moreover, the BBB permeability and the intestinal transport analyses revealed that fucoxanthinol, crocoxanthin, diatoxanthin, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, and prasinoxanthin have diverse permeabilities depending on the incubation time and the cell model used. Fucoxanthinol was the carotenoid with the highest and similar permeability in HBMEC cells (4.41%, 5.13%, and 18.94% at 2, 4, and 24 h, respectively) and Caco-2 cells (7.01%, 8.63%, and 18.36% at the same times), while crocoxanthin, diatoxanthin, and neoxanthin showed different kinetics. Methods: The neuroprotective potential of two extracts obtained from Tetraselmis chuii microalga were evaluated against Aβ1-42-, L-glutamate-, and H2O2-induced toxicities in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, the BBB permeability and the intestinal transepithelial transport of the main carotenoids present in the extracts were evaluated and compared using two cell culture models, HBMEC and Caco-2 cells. For that aim, the transport of the bioactive molecules across the barriers was evaluated using UHPLC-q-TOF-MS after 2, 4, and 24 h of incubation. Conclusions: These findings indicate that T. chuii is a promising natural source of bioactive compounds to develop functional foods against neurodegenerative diseases.

Parachlorella beijerinckii-derived carotenoids ameliorate inflammation in a psoriasis-like mouse model via modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in dendritic cells

Psoriasis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Many studies suggest that dendritic cells (DCs) and the T cell-mediated interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 axis play a central role in the signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Chlorella, also known as Parachlorella beijerinckii (PB), is a unicellular green alga that has long been used as a health food. It contains carotenoids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated whether PB-derived carotenoids (PBCs) ameliorated inflammatory processes in an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse model and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). We found that PBCs attenuated erythema, thickness, scaling, and neutrophil infiltration in the skin tissue of the IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mice. Moreover, PBCs suppressed psoriasis-related pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, DC activation, and IL-17A production by γδ T cells in IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mice. In IMQ-induced BMDCs, PBCs suppressed the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-23; IL-1β; and IL-6; and CD40/CD86, a marker of DC activation. Additionally, PBCs inhibited the nuclear factor kappa B, p38, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase inflammatory signaling pathways and the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS)-triggered inflammasome activation pathway. PBCs also activated the extracellular regulated protein kinase/NF-E2-related factor-2 (ERK/Nrf2) pathway in BMDCs. Moreover, PBCs suppressed the harmful effects of pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression and mitoROS and inflammasome activation via ERK/Nrf2 pathway activation in IMQ-induced BMDCs. In conclusion, PBCs may be beneficial in the management of psoriatic inflammation.

Sustainable Extraction Technology of Fruit and Vegetable Residues as Novel Food Ingredients

BACKGROUND

Fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) is a global waste issue with environmental impacts. It contains valuable compounds such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, proteins, vitamins, pigments, and fatty acids, which can be extracted for food applications. This study aims to review sustainable extraction methods for FVW and its potential in the food industry.

METHODS

This paper provides an overview of the sources and sustainable methods of high value-added compounds extracted from FVW. Sustainable techniques, including supercritical fluid extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction, are compared with traditional methods, for their efficiency in extracting high-value compounds from FVW while minimizing environmental impact.

DISCUSSIONS

Sustainable extraction of FVW compounds is sustainable and beneficial for novel food ingredients. However, challenges in scalability and cost need to be addressed for wider adoption in the food sector.

CONCLUSIONS

Sustainable extraction techniques effectively extract phytochemicals from FVW, preserving bioactivity and reducing environmental load. These methods show promise for sustainable food ingredient development.

The Impact of Selenium on the Physiological Activity of Yeast Cells Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 7090 and Rhodotorula glutinis CCY 20-2-26

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the selenium-binding capacity of the biomass of two yeast strains, Saccharomyces cerevisiae American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 7090 and Rhodotorula glutinis CCY 20-2-26.

METHODS

The studies carried out methods of bioaccumulation by yeast biomass. Inorganic selenium was added to the culture media as an aqueous solution of Na2SeO3 at concentrations ranging from 0 to 40 mg Se4+/L.

RESULTS

The addition of selenium at concentrations >0.5 mg/L significantly reduced biomass yield compared with the control in the case of S. cerevisiae. A significant reduction in the biomass of R. glutinis was observed only at selenium doses >30 mg/L. The study found that for S. cerevisiae, cultivation should occur for 24 h in a medium with an initial selenium concentration of 20 mg/L to achieve the most efficient selenium accumulation by the yeast biomass. Under these conditions, the yeast could accumulate 4.27 mg Se4+/g. For the red yeast R. glutinis, optimal selenium binding conditions were achieved by cultivating for 48 h in a medium with an initial selenium ion concentration of 40 mg/L. This yeast strain was more resistant to high selenium doses, accumulating 7.53 mg Se4+/L at the highest tested dose (40 mg Se4+/L). Selenium supplementation of the medium from 20 mg Se4+/L and cultivation for 72 h caused significant changes in the morphology of S. cerevisiae cells (e.g., increased surface area compared with the control). Selenium doses of 20-40 mg/L after 48 h of cultivation significantly reduced the surface area compared with the control results for R. glutinis cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Selenium significantly impacted carotenoid pigment production, with levels decreasing as the selenium concentration in the medium increased. Furthermore, selenium in the tested concentration range increased protein content in the cellular biomass but did not affect intracellular lipid production.

Recent Advances in the Therapeutic Potential of Carotenoids in Preventing and Managing Metabolic Disorders

Carotenoids constitute compounds of significant biological interest due to their multiple biological activities, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antiadipogenic, antidiabetic, and antioxidant properties. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprehends a series of metabolic abnormalities (e.g., hypertension, obesity, and atherogenic dyslipidemia) that can affect children, adolescents, and the elderly. The treatment of MetS involves numerous medications, which, despite their efficacy, pose challenges due to prolonged use, high costs, and various side effects. Carotenoids and their derivatives have been proposed as alternative treatments to MetS because they reduce serum triglyceride concentrations, promote insulin response, inhibit adipogenesis, and downregulate angiotensin-converting enzyme activity. However, carotenoids are notably sensitive to pH, light exposure, and temperature. This review addresses the activity of carotenoids such as lycopene, lutein, fucoxanthin, astaxanthin, crocin, and β-carotene towards MetS. It includes a discussion of sources, extraction methods, and characterization techniques for analyzing carotenoids. Encapsulation approaches are critically reviewed as alternatives to prevent degradation and improve the biological performance of carotenoids. A brief overview of the physiopathology and epidemiology of the diseases, including MetS, is also provided.

The Potential of Natural Carotenoids-Containing Sericin of the Domestic Silkworm Bombyx mori

Sericin derived from the white cocoon of Bombyx mori has been attracting more attention for its utilization in food, cosmetics, and biomedicine. The potential health benefits of natural carotenoids for humans have also been well-established. Some rare strains of Bombyx mori (B. mori) produce yellow-red cocoons, which endow a potential of natural carotenoid-containing sericin. We hypothesized that natural carotenoid-containing sericin from yellow-red cocoons would exhibit better properties compared with white cocoon sericin. To investigate the physicochemical attributes of natural carotenoid-containing sericin, we bred two silkworm strains from one common ancestor, namely XS7 and XS8, which exhibited different cocoon colors as a result of the inconsistent distribution of lutein and β-carotene. Compared with white cocoon sericin, the interaction between carotenoids and sericin molecules in carotenoid-containing sericin resulted in a unique fluorescence emission at 530, 564 nm. The incorporation of carotenoids enhanced the antibacterial effect, anti-cancer ability, cytocompatibility, and antioxidant of sericin, suggesting potential wide-ranging applications of natural carotenoid-containing sericin as a biomass material. We also found differences in fluorescence characteristics, antimicrobial effects, anti-cancer ability, and antioxidants between XS7 and XS8 sericin. Our work for the first time suggested a better application potential of natural carotenoid-containing sericin as a biomass material than frequently used white cocoon sericin.