title: Solubilization of beta-carotene in culture media.
abstract: Several methods were evaluated for the solubilization of supraphysiological concentrations of beta-carotene in culture media. The addition of beta-carotene in ethanol as 0.1% (vol/vol) of culture medium that contained 10% fetal bovine serum and incubation at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes solubilized approximately 50% of the added carotenoid. Solubilized beta-carotene concentrations from 3.06 to 36.4 mumol/l were obtained by this method. Ultracentrifugation studies localized the solubilized beta-carotene to low-density lipoproteins (67.0%) and high-density lipoproteins (24.9%). Other methods utilizing various amounts of fetal bovine serum, ethanol, and hexane as solvents did not significantly improve the solubilization of beta-carotene compared with the use of ethanol as 0.1% (vol/vol) of culture medium that contained 10% fetal bovine serum. Nonetheless, solubilization of supraphysiological concentrations of beta-carotene indicated the feasibility of preparing culture media containing physiological concentrations (approximately 0.5 mumol/l) of beta-carotene.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454-1015, USA. Gross@Epivax.Epi.umn.edu
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Belcher
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003470:Culture Media; D000431:Ethanol; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006586:Hexanes; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012995:Solubility; D012997:Solvents; D014461:Ultracentrifugation; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D006586:Hexanes; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012997:Solvents; D019207:beta Carotene; D000431:Ethanol