Tomato sauces were produced from unique tomato varieties to study carotenoid absorption in humans. Tangerine tomatoes, high in cis-lycopene, especially prolycopene (7Z,9Z,7'Z,9'Z), and high-beta-carotene tomatoes as an alternative dietary source of beta-carotene were grown and processed. Sauces were served after 2 week washout periods and overnight fasting for breakfast to healthy subjects (n =...

Effect of beta-carotene on the inhibition of lung metastasis induced by B16F-10 melanoma cells was studied in C57BL/6 mice. Simultaneous administration of the compound after tumor induction produced a significant reduction (71.36%) in tumor nodule formation. Increased lung collagen hydroxyproline (22.37 microg/mg protein) in the metastasized lungs of control animals compared to the normal anima...

Banana (Musa sp.) and papaya (Carica papaya) cultivars were harvested from different locations throughout Hawaii and analyzed for vitamin C (ascorbic acid), provitamin A (b-carotene, a-carotene, b-cryptoxanthin), and mineral composition. Dwarf Brazilian (‘‘apple’’) bananas had almost three times more vitamin C (12.7mg/100 g fresh weight) than Williams fruit (4.5mg/100 g). Also, Dwarf Brazilian ...

Little is known about the effect of preventive diets on colonic nutrient concentrations. This study randomized 120 persons at increased risk of colon cancer to a Mediterranean versus a Healthy Eating diet for six months. The former targeted increases in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, monounsaturated, and n3 fats. The Healthy Eating diet was based on Healthy People 2010 recommendations. At ba...

Findings from several beta-carotene supplementation trials were unexpected and conflicted with most observational studies. Carotenoids other than beta-carotene are found in a variety of fruits and vegetables and may play a role in this important malignancy, but previous findings regarding the five major carotenoids are inconsistent. The authors analyzed the associations between dietary beta-car...

The accumulation of b-carotene by the zygomycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus is increased by mutations in the carS gene. The treatment of spores of carS mutants with N-methyl-N*-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine led to the isolation, at very low frequencies, of mutants that produced higher levels of b-carotene. Strain S556 produced about 9 mg of b-carotene per g of dry mass when it was grown on minimal aga...

Background: In food industry, carotenoids are used as food colorants conferring yellow to red color. This research was designed to study on lipid and β-carotene production by Rhodosporidium diobovatum cultured with different Carbon to Nitrogen (C/N) ratios. Methods: R. diobovatum was cultured in a medium containing 40 g/l glucose (as the carbon source) and different C/N ratios (20, 50, and 80)...

THE identification of the yellow plant pigments-carotene and xanthophyllwith certain lipochromes of the animal body has been established by Palmer and his co-workers and has formed the substance of an interesting series of investigations. Palmer and Eckles [1914, 1] first identified the yellow colouring matter of cow's milk with carotene accompanied by insignificant traces of xanthophyll. They ...

The study assessed changes in nutritional content of some commonly consumed traditional vegetables subjected to postharvest processes. Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.), black nightshade (Solanum scabrum Mill.) and jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.) leaves used as vegetables were subjected to blanching, boiling and drying. The proximate composition and β-carotene content of fresh and processe...

Particularly in the field of advertising and in popular scientific journals, antioxidants such as β-carotene (from carrots) or lycopenes (from tomatoes) and the vitamins C and E are one-sidedly portrayed as substances capable of offering protection against cancer or ageing because they diminish or prevent the effects of free radicals. However, free radicals should by nomeans be considered as be...