Description

• General description: Carotenoids are an important class of naturally occurring pigments found in fruits and vegetables. Among the carotenoids, β-carotene has the greatest provitamin A potential and functions to reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and macular degeneration. Low water solubility and poor chemical stability attributes to low absorption of β-carotene from food. β-carotene along with digestible lipids enriches its bio accessibility. Emulsions or nano emulsions encapsulates effectively delivers lipophilic β-carotene and increases its bioavailability.[1] β-carotene has anti-oxidant potential and reduces noise induced hearing loss and progression of macular degeneration.[2]
• Application: β-carotene has been used:to generate nano emulsions to evaluate their bioavailability potential[1]as a standard, for β-carotene evaluation in blood and skin samples using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),[3]as a dietary supplement of vitamin-A in young rats by HPLC[4]as a dietary supplement in mice to reduce hearing loss and hair cell damage[2]
• Biochem/physiol Actions: The most important of the provitamins A, β-carotene can be classified as an antioxidant due to its inhibition of radical initiated peroxidation in vitro. However, in vivo it appears to act either as an antioxidant or a prooxidant depending on cellular environment. It reduces the incidence of many cancers, but enhances lung cancer incidence in smokers.
• Packaging: Packaged in serum vials.
• Caution: Purchase minimum quantity required. Discard one month after opening.