Carotenoid composition of Brazilian fruits and vegetables

Brazil has a wide diversity of food sources of carotenoids. The updated Brazilian database consists of more than 270 items of fruits, vegetables and their prepared and processed products. The database demonstrates variations due to variety, maturity, production technique, climate and processing. Many of these foods are not found in the US and European databases. Good to rich sources (>20 μg/g) of β-carotene are: acerola, bocaiúva, mango 'Extreme' and tucumã. Sources of both α-carotene and β-carotene are buriti, carrot, Cucurbita moschata 'Menina Brasileira', 'Baianinha' and 'Goianinha', and red palm oil. Commercially produced and uncultivated or semi-cultivated leafy vegetables, C. maxima 'Jerimum Caboclo' and the hybrid Tetsukabuto, cooked broccoli are sources of lutein and β-carotene. The edible Tropaeolum majus flower is especially rich in lutein. Although many fruits have β-cryptoxanthin as principal carotenoid (e.g. caja, nectarine, peach, orange-fleshed papaya, tree tomato), the levels are below 20 μg/g. Good to rich sources of lycopene are guava and guava products, papaya, pitanga and pitanga juice, tomato and tomato products, and watermelon. Sources of zeaxanthin are rare; although the principal carotenoid of piqui, the amount is low, lower than that found in buriti.

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity

The anthracyclines constitute a group of drugs widely used for the treatment of a variety of human tumors. However, the development of irreversible cardiotoxicity has limited their use. Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity can persist for years with no clinical symptoms. However, its prognosis becomes poor after the development of overt heart failure, possibly even worse than ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathies. Due to the successful action of anthracyclines as chemotherapic agents, several strategies have been tried to prevent/ attenuate their side effects. Although anthracycline-induced injury appears to be multifactorial, a common denominator among most of the proposed mechanisms is cellular damage mediated by reactive oxygen species. However, it remains controversial as to whether antioxidants can prevent such side effects given that different mechanisms may be involved in acute versus chronic toxicity. The present review applies a multisided approach to the critical evaluation of various hypotheses proposed over the last decade on the role of oxidative stress in cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin, the most used anthracycline agent. The clinical diagnosis and treatment is also discussed. © 2008 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Chronic alcohol intake upregulates hepatic expression of carotenoid cleavage enzymes and PPAR in rats

Excessive and chronic alcohol intake leads to a lower hepatic vitamin A status by interfering with vitamin A metabolism. Dietary provitamin A carotenoids can be converted into vitamin A mainly by carotenoid 15,15′-monooxygenase 1 (CMO1) and, to a lesser degree, carotenoid 9′10′-monooxygenase 2 (CMO2). CMO1 has been shown to be regulated by several transcription factors, such as the PPAR, retinoid X receptor, and thyroid receptor (TR). The regulation of CMO2 has yet to be identified. The impact of chronic alcohol intake on hepatic expressions of CMO1 and CMO2 and their related transcription factors are unknown. In this study, Fischer 344 rats were pair-fed either a liquid ethanol Lieber-DeCarli diet (n = 10) or a control diet (n = 10) for 11 wk. Hepatic retinoid concentration and expressions of CMO1, CMO2, PPARγ, PPARα, and TRβ as well as plasma thyroid hormones levels were analyzed. We observed that administering alcohol decreased hepatic retinoid levels but increased mRNA concentrations of CMO1, CMO2, PPARγ, PPARα, and TRβ and upregulated protein levels of CMO2, PPARγ, and PPARα. There was a positive correlation of PPARγ with CMO1(r = 0.89; P<0.0001) and both PPARγ and PPARα with CMO2 (r = 0.72, P< 0.001 and r = 0.62, P< 0.01, respectively). Plasma thyroid hormone concentrations did not differ between the control rats and alcohol-fed rats. This study suggests that chronic alcohol intake significantly upregulates hepatic expression of CMO1 and, to a much lesser extent, CMO2. This process may be due to alcohol-induced PPARγ expression and lower vitamin A status in the liver. © 2010 American Society for Nutrition.

Carotenoides em abóboras

The present literature review highlights the importance of carotenoids as bioactive compound, and its potential application in functional foods. It were detailed the origin, chemical characteristics and sources of the carotenoids. It were also studied the most used methods to quantify and qualify the carotenoids, including spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and colorimetry. The pumpkin intake is recommended because they represent important source of carotenoids such as α-carotene, β-carotene and lutein.

Cardiac remodeling induced by smoking: Concepts, relevance, and potential mechanisms

Cardiac or ventricular remodeling is characterized by molecular, cellular, and interstitial alterations that lead to changes in heart size, mass, geometry and function in response to a given insult. Currently, tobacco smoke exposure is recognized as one of these insults. Indeed, tobacco smoke exposure induces the enlargement of the left-sided cardiac chambers, myocardial hypertrophy, and ventricular dysfunction. Potential mechanisms for these alterations include hemodynamic and neurohormonal changes, oxidative stress, inflammation, nitric oxide bioavailability, matrix metalloproteinases and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. This review will focus on the concepts, relevance, and potential mechanisms of cardiac remodeling induced by tobacco smoke. © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers.

Edible coatings from native and modified starches retain carotenoids in pumpkin during drying

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of edible coating pre-treatments on the retention of provitamin A during pumpkin drying. The coatings used were based on native and modified maize and cassava starch. To evaluate the effects of these coatings, slices of 'Dry Rajada' pumpkin were dried at 70 °C both with and without starch coatings applied at 30 and 80-90 °C. Carotenoid content was determined through HPLC using a C 30 column. Significant losses (12-15%) of trans-α-carotene and trans-β-carotene were observed when slices were dried without the coating. Significant improvement of carotenoid content was observed for dehydrated slices that were previously coated with a native maize starch solution at 90 °C, as well as with a modified maize starch solution at 30 °C and also with a modified cassava starch solution at 90 °C. The application of these starch solutions probably produced a more uniform film that adhered to the slices, minimizing carotenoid degradation during pumpkin drying and, as a consequence, resulting in a product that can be considered a good source of provitamin A. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Sustainable production of biologically active molecules of marine based origin

The marine environment offers both economic and scientific potential which are relatively untapped from a biotechnological point of view. These environments whilst harsh are ironically fragile and dependent on a harmonious life form balance. Exploitation of natural resources by exhaustive wild harvesting has obvious negative environmental consequences. From a European industry perspective marine organisms are a largely underutilised resource. This is not due to lack of interest but due to a lack of choice the industry faces for cost competitive, sustainable and environmentally conscientious product alternatives. Knowledge of the biotechnological potential of marine organisms together with the development of sustainable systems for their cultivation, processing and utilisation are essential. In 2010, the European Commission recognised this need and funded a collaborative RTD/SME project under the Framework 7-Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) Theme 2 Programme 'Sustainable culture of marine microorganisms, algae and/or invertebrates for high value added products'. The scope of that project entitled 'Sustainable Production of Biologically Active Molecules of Marine Based Origin' (BAMMBO) is outlined. Although the Union is a global leader in many technologies, it faces increasing competition from traditional rivals and emerging economies alike and must therefore improve its innovation performance. For this reason innovation is placed at the heart of a European Horizon 2020 Strategy wherein the challenge is to connect economic performance to eco performance. This article provides a synopsis of the research activities of the BAMMBO project as they fit within the wider scope of sustainable environmentally conscientious marine resource exploitation for high-value biomolecules. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Avaliação da retenção de carotenóides de abóbora, mandioca e batata doce

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Atividade antioxidante dos extratos de shiitake (Lentinus edodes) e de cogumelo do sol (Agaricus blazei) aplicados em óelo de soja sob aquecimento

Pós-graduação em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - IBILCE

Influência da variedade e região de cultivo sobre compostos bioativos, atividade antioxidante e cor de laranjas de polpa vermelha

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Atividade protetora cardiovascular do suco de laranja vermelha em indivíduos adultos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação das condições cromatográficas de análise e efeito da aplicação de coberturas comestíveis nos caratenóides de abóboras desidratadas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação nutricional, da capacidade funcional e do estresse oxidativo de idosos da cidade de Botucatu - SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Modo de cultivo e sanitização na pós-colheita de repolho híbrido 'Fuyutoyo'

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estudo fitoquímico e busca de substâncias bioativas de Chrysophyllum flexuosum (Sapotaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)