title: Identification of products from canthaxanthin oxidation.
abstract: Canthaxanthin is a carotenoid that lacks pro-vitamin A activity but is known to have antioxidant activity. The products of its oxidation in oxygen were found to be mainly substituted apo-carotenals and apo-carotenones. The product profile resembles that obtained in the oxidation of β-carotene, except that with canthaxanthin these products are the 4-oxo-β-apo-carotenals and 4-oxo-β-apo-carotenones. Epoxides and diepoxides were clearly identified from β-carotene oxidation but in contrast, with canthaxanthin, apart from 5,6-epoxy-canthaxanthin, which was detected at the early stage of oxidation and minor quantities of 5,6-epoxy-β-ionone and 5,6-epoxy-4-oxo-β-apo-11-carotenal, no other epoxides were detected. The identities of these products lead us to suggest that the mechanism of canthaxanthin oxidation bears significant similarity to that of β-carotene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Km 10, Idiroko Road, OTA, Ogun State, Nigeria. Electronic address: raphael.mordi@covenantuniversity.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Raphael C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mordi
authors.affiliation: EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, North Haugh, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK. Electronic address: jcw@st-and.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: D016644:Canthaxanthin / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D016644:Canthaxanthin
keywords: 4-Oxo-β-ionone (PubChem CID: 33736); Antioxidant; Apo-carotenoids; Canthaxanthin; Canthaxanthin (PubChem CID: 14523227); Carotenoids; Oxidation; β-Carotene; β-Carotene (PubChem CID: 5280489)