title: Distribution and antioxidant activity of a palm oil carotene fraction in rats.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the tissue distribution of carotenoids in palm oil and to correlate the accumulation of carotenoids with protection against oxidative stress. We found that: (i) After 2 weeks beta-carotene in the liver increased from 7.3 to 30 ng/g wet tissue; alpha-carotene and lycopene after 10 weeks of feeding were 74 and 49 ng/g wet tissue respectively; (ii) Beta-carotene content in heart and hind limb skeletal muscles increased after 10 weeks to 17 and 6 ng/g wet tissue respectively; (iii) No carotenoids were detected in the brain, adipose and skin during the period of feeding; (iv) After in vitro induction of lipid peroxidation in liver homogenates by an azo-initiator of peroxyl radicals an inverse correlation between tissue carotenoid level and accumulation of lipid peroxidation products was observed; alpha-carotene > lycopene > beta-carotene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serbinova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Packer
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005609:Free Radicals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D010938:Plant Oils; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; D000073878:Palm Oil; D000077276:Lycopene