• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.263-272
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• 2011

For tomatoes containing valuable nutrients and biological active substances, this study examined differences in the ascorbic acid, lycopene, ${\beta}$-carotene, and ${\alpha}$-carotene contents in processed tomato products according to tomato cultivar and the part of fully ripened tomatoes. According to the results, the ascorbic acid content was different among tomato cultivars, and it was far higher in jelly than in pulp among the parts of tomatoes. The ascorbic acid content in processed tomato products was higher in tomato juice than in other types of tomato products, but the difference was mainly from various additives used in addition to tomatoes; therefore, it was somewhat unreasonable to compare the ascorbic acid content among the products. It was found that the lycopene content was not significantly different between pulp and jelly in each cultivar. In most of the cultivars, the ${\beta}$-carotene content was not significantly different according to the parts, but in cultivar yeoyong, the content was 2.7 times higher in jelly than in pulp. The ${\alpha}$-carotene content was highest in both pulp and jelly for all the cultivar, and the lycopene and ${\beta}$-carotene contents were lowest regardless of parts for cultivar Yellow Carol. ${\alpha}$ carotene was not detected in either pulp or jelly. The lycopene, ${\beta}$-carotene, and ${\alpha}$-carotene contents showed significant difference among processed tomato products, and the difference came mainly from the type of processing and additives. Tomatoes have superior characteristics, but they are usually consumed uncooked in Korea. Thus, this study aimed to contribute to the various forms of consumption of tomatoes, that is, the development of various nutritionally excellent cooking methods using processed tomato products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.72-77
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• 2004

Diabetic vascular complications such as atherosclerosis have been reported as one of significant obstructions in treatment of diabetes. There has been a significant increase in recognition of the importance of antioxidative nutrients such as vitamin E, for the prevention of diabetic vascular complication by oxidative stress. This study focused on the effect of dietary $\beta$-carotene on the levels of lipid peroxide and antioxidative vitamins of diabetic rats. The plasma glucose level, hepatic level of lipid peroxide and contents of antioxidants such as vitamins A and E were determined in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Dietary supplementation of B-carotene did not reduce the blood glucose in diabetic rats. Hepatic level of lipid peroxide tended to increase in diabetic rats, but $\beta$-carotene intake reduced the value. Plasma levels of retinol and retinol/lipid were not changed by dietary supplementation of $\beta$-carotene. There was no significant difference among experimental groups in plasma level of $\alpha$-tocopherol. Hepatic levels of retionl and retinyl palmitate were increased by dietary supplementation of $\beta$-carotene in diabetic rats. These results suggest that the supplementation of $\beta$-carotene to the normal diet of diabetics may reduce the incidence of the diabetic vascular complications through the improvement of antioxidants depletion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.117-123
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• 2007

HPLC quantifications of fresh and cooked (steamed/microwaved) spinach, one of the most frequently consumed vegetables in foodservice operations, were carried out to determine carotenoids compositions. An S-3 $\mu$m C30 stationary phase for reversed-phase columns with diode-array detection was used to separate and quantify geometric isomers of provitamin A carotenoids in the fresh and cooked spinach. The carotenoids in fresh spinach were identified and quantified: Lutein (63.0%), $\beta$-carotene isomers (all-trans 29.6%, 9-cis 3.2%, 13-cis 1.8%, $\alpha$-carotene 0.4%, zeaxanthin 2.1%) and cryptoxanthin. Cryptoxanthin, detected in a trace amount in HPLC, was not quantified in this study. Lutein was little affected by cooking methods and frozen conditions. 9-cis and 13-cis-$\beta$-carotene isomers were major types formed during cooking. Cooking (steam/microwave) did not alter carotenoid profiles of the samples, but the amounts of carotenoids quantified were greater than those in the fresh samples. Heat treatment such as steaming increased total carotenoids contents, especially trans-$\beta$-carotene (p<0.05). The carotenoid contents of the frozen spinach increased even after the microwaved treatment (p<0.05). These increases were likely to result from the increased extraction efficiency and inactivation of enzymes capable of carotenoids degrading during the heat treatments.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1009-1015
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• 2007

In this communication, we report the efficacy of $\beta$-carotene towards differentiation and apoptosis of leukemia cells. Dose ($20{\mu}M$) and time dependence (12 h) tests of $\beta$-carotene showed a higher magnitude of decrease (significance p < 0.05) in cell numbers and cell viability in HL-60 cells than U937 cells but not normal cell like Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). Microscopical observation of $\beta$-carotene treated cells showed a distinct pattern of morphological abnormalities with inclusion of apoptotic bodies in both leukemia cell lines. When cells were treated with $20{\mu}M$ of $\beta$-carotene, total genomic DNA showed a fragmentation pattern and this pattern was clear in HL-60 than U937 cells. Both the cell lines, on treatment with $\beta$-carotene, showed a clear shift in $G_1$ phase of the cell cycle. In addition the study also revealed anti-oxidant properties of $\beta$-carotene since there was reduction in relative fluorescent when treated than the control at lower concentration. Collectively this study shows the dual phenomenon of apoptosis and differentiation of leukemia cells on treatment with $\beta$-carotene.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2006

To determine the effects of ${\beta}$-carotene on the control of mastitis in dairy cows during the dry period, 38 dairy cows (18 mastitic cows and 20 healthy cows) were administered with 5 ml of ${\beta}$-carotene (30 mg/ml) intramuscularly twice (4 week intervals). Blood samples were taken from the cows before the injection and two weeks after the second injection, respectively, and were measured for the proportion of lymphocyte subpopulations and lymphocyte proliferation responses. With ${\beta}$-carotene injection, the proportion of cells expressing BoCD2, BoCD4 and B and N cells increased in healthy cows. In the presence of mitogens, lymphocytes from healthy cows showed significantly higher proliferation responses after ${\beta}$-carotene injection than before (p < 0.05), The somatic cell counts in ${\beta}$-carotene injected group decreased from 1,001,00 cells/ml at dry off to 647,000 cell/ml and 447 cells/ml at the stage of first and second weeks after calving, respectively (p < 0,05), This study indicated that ${\beta}$-carotene as a nonspecific immunostimulator could have a definite role for the prevention of intramammary infections in dairy cows at dry period.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2000

Carotenoids in commercial green-yellow vegetables(carrot, mugwort, perilla leaf, leek and water dropwort) were analyzed by HPLC. Carotenoids detected were lutein, ${\alpha}$-carotene, and ${\beta}$-carotene. ${\beta}$-Carotene and lutein were detected in every sample analyzed, but ${\alpha}$-carotene could only be detected in carrot. Blanching vegetables in 3% saline increased the content of carotenoids, however, the components of carotenoids were not changed. This result suggests that blanching increases the amount of available carotenoids.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.750-758
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• 2009

Smoking is associated with an increased incidence of numerous cancers and other degenerative diseases. It has been suggested that high consumption of fruits and vegetables may give some protection. Especially carrot is the most important source of dietary ${\beta}$-carotene. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate whether carrot juice supplementation to smokers have different or superior effect of compared to the effect supplementing purified ${\beta}$-carotene. The study was conducted in a randomized and placebo-controlled design, after a depletion period of 14 days, 48 smokers were supplemented either carrot juice (n = 18), purified ${\beta}$-carotene (n = 16) or placebo (n = 14). Each group was supplemented for 8 weeks with approximately 20.49 mg of ${\beta}$-carotene/day and 1.2 mg of vitamin C/day, as carrot juice (300 mL/day) or purified ${\beta}$-carotene (1 capsule/day). Plasma vitamin C, vitamin E and ${\beta}$-carotene level were significantly increased after carrot juice and ${\beta}$-carotene supplementation. These results suggest that carrot juice containing ${\beta}$-carotene or ${\beta}$-carotene itself have similar antioxidative potentials by increasing the antioxidant potential in smokers. Therefore, we suggest moderate dose of vitamin supplementation (amount of two servings of vegetable intake) may help to replenish the decreased oxidative stress levels in smokers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.771-779
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary $\beta$-carotene supplementation on lipid metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in hyperlipidemic rats. Fifty Sprague-Dawley male rats aging 7 weeks were fed the control diet (CD,5% corn oil) and the high fat diet (HFD,15% beef tallow +1% cholesterol) for 4 weeks and then 0.02% $\beta$-carotene was supplemented to CD and HFD group for 8 more weeks. Serum lipid compositions, lipid peroxides and antioxidative enzymes in liver were analyzed at 4, 8 and 12week of the experiment. Serum levels of total lipid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol were higher in HFD groups than in CD groups (p < 0.001), Serum levels of HDL-cholesterol were higher in CD groups than in HFD groups (p < 0.01) . The effect of $\beta$-carotene supplementation was not significant in all groups but tended to be lower in total lipid, total cholesterol and Triglyceride. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in plasma and liver were showed significantly higher in HFD groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). The effects of $\beta$-carotene supplementation on the level of plasma and liver TBARS were not found except HFD groups at 12 week. Liver conjugated diene levels in HFD groups were higher than in CD groups (p < 0.01), but the effect of $\beta$-carotene supplementation did not show any differences. Liver lipofuscin levels were not significantly different among all groups. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were significantly lower in HFD groups at 8 week (p < 0.001) but were not significantly different at 4 and 12week. The activity of SOD in $\beta$-carotene supplemented HFD group was significantly higher at 8 week (p < 0.01). Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was significantly lower in HFD groups (p < 0.01) and was significantly increased in groups supplemented $\beta$-carotene (p < 0.05). It is suggested that $\beta$-carotene supplementation partly decreases the serum lipid and lipid peroxide levels and increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes in hyperlipidemic rats.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.272-281
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• 1994

To investigate the effects on pigmentation and carotenoids metabolism of sea bass, Lateolablax japonicus, by supplemented carotenoids, fish were fed the diets each containing ${\beta}$-carotene, lutein ester, astaxanthin, astaxanthin monoester and astaxanthin diester for 8 weeks. Carotenoids in the integuments were analyzed. The important carotenoids in the integuments of sea bass were tunaxanthin and lutein. ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and ${\beta}$-carotene triol were minor contributors. Differences in the content of ${\beta}$-carotene, tunaxanthin fraction and lutein were observed between the natural and cultured sea bass. The wild sea bass contained higher amounts of tunaxanthin fraction and lutein, but contained lower amounts of ${\beta}$-carotene than cultured sea bass. In cultured sea bass with supplemented carotenoids, carotenoid deposition was higher in order of astaxanthin monoester group, astaxanthin group and astaxanthin diester group. Based on the contents and composition of carotenoids in each group after the feeding the experimental diet, The metabolism of carotenoid in sea bass was presumed to be the reductive metabolic pathways: astaxanthin to tunaxanthin via ${\beta}$-carotene triol, zeaxanthin and lutein.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary $\beta$-carotene supplementation on lipid peroxide levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in alcoholic fatty liver rats. Forty five Sprague-Dawley male rats aging 8 weeks were used as experimental animals, which were divided into the control diet (CD) and the ethanol diet (ED) and the ethanol + $0.02\%$ $\beta$-carotene diet (EPD) groups and fed the experimental diet respectively for 5 weeks. After the feeding, rats were sacrificed to get blood and liver to analyze lipid and lipid peroxide levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. The mean body weight and food intake of the ethanol diet group was significantly lower than that of the control diet. The liver index (LI) of the ethanol diet group was significantly higher than those of the control diet and the $\beta$-carotene supplementation group. Serum levels of total lipid, triglyceride of the ethanol diet group were significantly higher than those of the control diet and the $\beta$-carotene supplementation group. Total cholesterol levels were not significantly different among all groups. HDL-cholesterol of the ethanol diet group was significantly lower than those of the control diet and the $\beta$-carotene supplementation group. Liver TBARS of the ethanol diet group was significantly higher than those of the control diet and the $\beta$-carotene supplementation group. Liver lipofuscin and conjugated diene levels were not significantly different among all groups. The superoxide dismutase activity of the ethanol diet group was significantly lower than those of the control diet and the $\beta$-carotene supplementation group. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were not significantly different among all groups. Because v-carotene supplementation significantly decrease the serum total lipid, triglyceride, liver TBARS revels and increase the superoxide dismutase activity in alcoholic ratty liver rats, $\beta$-carotene supplementation seems to give beneficial effect for the alcoholics.