18 Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Applications of Carotenoids
455
Terasaki et al. 2019). For example, Hosokawa et al. (2004) reported that fucoxanthin significantly reduced the viability of human colon cancer cell lines such as
HT-29, Caco-2, and DLD-1 cells. In addition, fucoxanthin has gained much attention for its anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects due to a unique mechanism. Maeda
et al. (2005) reported that fucoxanthin induces uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in white adipose tissue (WAT), and UCP1 can dissipate energy via fatty acid
oxidation and heat production. Moreover, the carotenoid enhanced insulin resistance
and improved blood glucose levels via the up-regulation of glucose transporter 4
(GLUT4) in skeletal muscle and downregulation of adipocytokines related to insulin
resistance in WAT (Maeda 2015; Maeda et al. 2009; Miyashita et al. 2010). Thus,
foods rich in fucoxanthin, such as brown seaweeds, are expected to have a preventive
effect on metabolic syndrome.
18.1.7 Other Carotenoids
In addition to the above carotenoids, functional studies of α-carotene, canthaxanthin, and capsanthin are well documented. These carotenoids have powerful antioxidant activity (Di Mascio et al. 1989; Ouchi et al. 2010) and may have anti-cancer
activity (Kim et al. 2009; Tanaka et al. 2012) like other carotenoids. For example,
epidemiological and animal studies indicated that capsanthin appears to possibly
exert a potent inhibitory effect on colon carcinogenesis (Kim et al. 2009; Narisawa
et al. 2000). Moreover, multiple studies have reported some other health benefits of
α-carotene, canthaxanthin, and capsanthin: high plasma levels of α-carotene were
associated with a lower risk of atherosclerosis (D’Odorico et al. 2000); canthaxanthin
would have immunomodulatory activity, i.e., the carotenoid enhanced the proliferation and function of immune competent cells (Esatbeyoglu and Rimbach 2017);
dietary capsanthin increased in plasma HDL-cholesterol level (Aizawa and Inakuma
2009). In recent years, bioactivities of several rare carotenoids such as adonixanthin and siphonaxanthin are spotlighted. In detail, adonixanthin found abundantly
in astaxanthin synthesize bacteria such as Paracoccus sp. and Agrobacterium sp.
have very high antioxidant activity of carotenoids (Maoka et al. 2013). Furthermore,
Iwata et al. (2018) reported that dietary adonixanthin may protect against brain
damage induced by cerebral hemorrhage, including structural and functional symptoms. Siphonaxanthin, a marine carotenoid from green algae such as Codium fragile
and Caulerpa lentillifera (Sugawara et al. 2014), effectively induced apoptosis in
human leukemia (HL-60) cells (Ganesan et al. 2011) and inhibited angiogenesis
by downregulating fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2)-mediated intracellular signals
in vascular endothelial cells (Ganesan et al. 2013). More than 750 naturally occurring carotenoids had been reported until now, but their functional studies have been
carried out only in part. Hence, further progress in this research area is expected in
the future.
455
Terasaki et al. 2019). For example, Hosokawa et al. (2004) reported that fucoxanthin significantly reduced the viability of human colon cancer cell lines such as
HT-29, Caco-2, and DLD-1 cells. In addition, fucoxanthin has gained much attention for its anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects due to a unique mechanism. Maeda
et al. (2005) reported that fucoxanthin induces uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in white adipose tissue (WAT), and UCP1 can dissipate energy via fatty acid
oxidation and heat production. Moreover, the carotenoid enhanced insulin resistance
and improved blood glucose levels via the up-regulation of glucose transporter 4
(GLUT4) in skeletal muscle and downregulation of adipocytokines related to insulin
resistance in WAT (Maeda 2015; Maeda et al. 2009; Miyashita et al. 2010). Thus,
foods rich in fucoxanthin, such as brown seaweeds, are expected to have a preventive
effect on metabolic syndrome.
18.1.7 Other Carotenoids
In addition to the above carotenoids, functional studies of α-carotene, canthaxanthin, and capsanthin are well documented. These carotenoids have powerful antioxidant activity (Di Mascio et al. 1989; Ouchi et al. 2010) and may have anti-cancer
activity (Kim et al. 2009; Tanaka et al. 2012) like other carotenoids. For example,
epidemiological and animal studies indicated that capsanthin appears to possibly
exert a potent inhibitory effect on colon carcinogenesis (Kim et al. 2009; Narisawa
et al. 2000). Moreover, multiple studies have reported some other health benefits of
α-carotene, canthaxanthin, and capsanthin: high plasma levels of α-carotene were
associated with a lower risk of atherosclerosis (D’Odorico et al. 2000); canthaxanthin
would have immunomodulatory activity, i.e., the carotenoid enhanced the proliferation and function of immune competent cells (Esatbeyoglu and Rimbach 2017);
dietary capsanthin increased in plasma HDL-cholesterol level (Aizawa and Inakuma
2009). In recent years, bioactivities of several rare carotenoids such as adonixanthin and siphonaxanthin are spotlighted. In detail, adonixanthin found abundantly
in astaxanthin synthesize bacteria such as Paracoccus sp. and Agrobacterium sp.
have very high antioxidant activity of carotenoids (Maoka et al. 2013). Furthermore,
Iwata et al. (2018) reported that dietary adonixanthin may protect against brain
damage induced by cerebral hemorrhage, including structural and functional symptoms. Siphonaxanthin, a marine carotenoid from green algae such as Codium fragile
and Caulerpa lentillifera (Sugawara et al. 2014), effectively induced apoptosis in
human leukemia (HL-60) cells (Ganesan et al. 2011) and inhibited angiogenesis
by downregulating fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2)-mediated intracellular signals
in vascular endothelial cells (Ganesan et al. 2013). More than 750 naturally occurring carotenoids had been reported until now, but their functional studies have been
carried out only in part. Hence, further progress in this research area is expected in
the future.