Discovery and Characterization of Carotenoid-Oxygen Copolymers in Fruits and Vegetables with Potential Health Benefits.
We reported previously that the spontaneous oxidation of β-carotene and other carotenoids proceeds predominantly by formation of carotenoid-oxygen copolymers and that β-carotene copolymers exhibit immunological activity, including priming innate immune function and limiting inflammatory processes. Oxidative loss of carotenoids in fruits and vegetables occurs during processing. Here we report evidence for the occurrence of associated analogous copolymer compounds. Geronic acid, an indirect, low molecular weight marker of β-carotene oxidation at ∼2% of β-carotene copolymers, is found to occur in common fresh or dried foods, including carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, paprika, rosehips, seaweeds, and alfalfa, at levels encompassing an approximately thousand-fold range, from low ng/g in fresh foods to μg/g in dried foods. Copolymers isolated from several dried foods reach mg/g levels: comparable to initial carotenoid levels. In vivo biological activity of supplemental β-carotene copolymers has been previously documented at μg/g levels, suggesting that some foods could have related activity.
Avivagen Inc. , 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
Graham W
GW
Burton
Avivagen Inc. , 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
Janusz
J
Daroszewski
Avivagen Inc. , 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
Trevor J
TJ
Mogg
Avivagen Inc. , 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.
Grigory B
GB
Nikiforov
Avivagen Inc. , 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3, Canada.
James G
JG
Nickerson
D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
D011108:Polymers; D002338:Carotenoids; D010100:Oxygen
carotenoid oxidation; carotenoid-oxygen copolymers; geronic acid; non-vitamin A immunomodulation; oxidative polymerization; provitamin A