Cellular bound beta-carotene quenches singlet oxygen in man.
It is often postulated that a major role of carotenoids in biology and medicine involves their ability to quench a toxic form of oxygen, known as singlet oxygen, although direct observations of such mechanisms do not exist. Using beta-carotene, bound to lymphocytes taken from human blood, we have used a direct, pulsed laser, physical chemical technique and, separately, a biological method to show a particularly efficient quenching reaction of singlet oxygen by carotene in a cellular environment.
Böhm
F
F
Universitatshautklinik, (Charité), Berlin, Germany.
Haley
J
J
Truscott
T G
TG
Schalch
W
W
D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D003624:Darkness; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007834:Lasers; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010777:Photochemistry; D012395:Rose Bengal; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014343:Trypan Blue; D019207:beta Carotene
D019207:beta Carotene; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D012395:Rose Bengal; D002338:Carotenoids; D014343:Trypan Blue; D010100:Oxygen