Carotenoids have been shown to have potential beneficial effects on human health which has led to an increasing interest in the study of their bioavailability. A Caco-2 cell model, as previously described, was employed to examine the percentage transfer of the carotenoids alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, astaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin through an intact, highly di...

We evaluated the effect of carotenoids on the dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact hypersensitivity in mice. Dietary carotenoids significantly inhibited ear swelling and reduced the contents of TNF-α and histamine in the DNFB-treated mice. Our results suggest that dietary carotenoids exerted an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing mast cell degranulation in vivo.

Oxidative stress is a key contributor to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Bioactive dietary elements including phytochemicals, and in particular, carotenoids display antioxidant effect and substantially reduce markers of oxidative stress. Carotenoids have been shown to prevent several chronic disorders including cardiovascular diseases by reducing the inflammatory responses. Here, we...

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may potentially influence plasma concentrations of carotenoids. However, data on the association of plasma carotenoids with CVD related biomarkers are only limited. OBJECTIVE We examined the cross-sectional association of plasma carotenoids with blood lipids, glycated hemoglobin (Hb A(1c)), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in middle-aged and ol...

Bright yellow to red signals used in mate choice or intrasexual competition are based on carotenoid pigments that are hypothesized to be traded between physiological functions and coloration. These signals have recently been shown to be influenced by maternal effects. Indeed, yolk-derived carotenoids are essential for embryos to develop efficient carotenoid metabolism in posthatching life. Mate...

Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil) is a representative plant lacking a yellow-flowered cultivar, although a few wild Ipomoea species contain carotenoids in their petals such as Ipomoea sp. (yellow petals) and I. obscura (pale-yellow petals). In the present study, carotenoid composition and the expression patterns of carotenogenic genes during petal development were compared among I. nil, I. o...