title: Fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid present in brown seaweeds and diatoms: metabolism and bioactivities relevant to human health.
abstract: The marine carotenoid fucoxanthin can be found in marine brown seaweeds, the macroalgae, and diatoms, the microalgae, and has remarkable biological properties. Numerous studies have shown that fucoxanthin has considerable potential and promising applications in human health. In this article, we review the current available scientific literature regarding the metabolism, safety, and bioactivities of fucoxanthin, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-obese, antidiabetic, antiangiogenic and antimalarial activities, and its protective effects on the liver, blood vessels of the brain, bones, skin, and eyes. Although some studies have shown the bioavailability of fucoxanthin in brown seaweeds to be low in humans, many studies have suggested that a dietary combination of fucoxanthin and edible oil or lipid could increase the absorption rate of fucoxanthin, and thus it might be a promising marine drug.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Chou-Fei
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Jiang-Hai
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5604-805X
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001682:Biological Availability; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D024341:Xanthophylls; C025164:fucoxanthin
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