433
9 years remarkably reduces the risk of dysglycemia. The HbA1c reducing ability of
carotenoids may be due to their antioxidant action, and this is nearly associated
with glycosylation of protein (Riccioni et al. 2016).
20.5.11 Hepatoprotective Activity
The liver is a very important organ in the body with broad biological functions
including production of digestive chemicals, detoxification, glucose homeostasis,
protein synthesis. Furthermore, it plays an essential function in the biosynthesis of
plasma protein, production of hormones and metabolism of stored glycogen
(Sugiura 2013). In regards to carbohydrate metabolism, it is the main region of
insulin clearance, and glycogen breakdown in the liver leads to increase in glucose
production by the hepatocyte (Michael et al. 2000). Severe liver diseases is a global
health problem and it is characterised by fibrotic and inflammatory process that
causes continuous transformation from severe hepatitis to cirrhosis and then to cancer of liver. Chronic liver disorders is usually caused by type-2 diabetes, insulin
resistance, abnormal metabolism of carbohydrate and lipid, virus, alcohol and xenobiotic (Loguercio et al. 2001). Consistently, oxidative stress plays a vital role in
pathogenesis of hepatic injuries. In the liver, activated inflammatory cells like the
Kupffer cells, macrophages as well as the cytochrome p450 of injured hepatic cells
and mitochondrial enzymes are main source of ROS (Tilg and Diehl 2000; Parola
and Robino 2001). High level of these ROS species do not only degenerate macromolecules like DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and other biomolecules but
also induce transcription of biochemical modulators like cytokines, which regulate
cellular and tissue events (Tilg and Diehl 2000; Parola and Robino 2001).
Carotenoids, like other micronutrients with antioxidant activity, it may be essential
in protecting cells against oxidative stress by effectively attenuating free radicals
and singlet oxygen production (Fig. 20.4). Thus preventing continuous disease of
the liver (Sugiura 2013). Carotenoids accumulates in the liver, where they are combined into lipoproteins to aid their transportation in extracellular fluid. They inhibits
the formation of liver damage. β-carotene, lutein, β-crytoxanthin and lycopene are
some examples of carotenoids they possesses antioxidiant properties againgst lipid
peroxidation in rat hepatocytes (Chen and Tappel 1996; Whittaker et al. 1996). In a
study, it was reported that the level of antioxidant micronutrients such as zinc, selenium and β-carotene were significantly reduced in group consisting of alcoholic
patients compared to group consisting of non-alcoholic patients. The groups were
further subdivided in respect to liver injury; the β-carotene indicated a continuous
reduction in plasma with corresponding increase of liver damage (Ward and Peters
1992). In a similar study, group consisting patients with alcohol abuse with nonalcoholic cirrhosis had a significant decrease in the plasma level of total carotenoids
such as β-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, cryptoxanthin, α-carotene and lycopene
compared to control group (Van de Casteele et al. 2002). Carotenoids may be
involve in the antioxidant defense cascade in biological systems when they occur in
20 Carotenoids as Functional Bioactive Compounds
9 years remarkably reduces the risk of dysglycemia. The HbA1c reducing ability of
carotenoids may be due to their antioxidant action, and this is nearly associated
with glycosylation of protein (Riccioni et al. 2016).
20.5.11 Hepatoprotective Activity
The liver is a very important organ in the body with broad biological functions
including production of digestive chemicals, detoxification, glucose homeostasis,
protein synthesis. Furthermore, it plays an essential function in the biosynthesis of
plasma protein, production of hormones and metabolism of stored glycogen
(Sugiura 2013). In regards to carbohydrate metabolism, it is the main region of
insulin clearance, and glycogen breakdown in the liver leads to increase in glucose
production by the hepatocyte (Michael et al. 2000). Severe liver diseases is a global
health problem and it is characterised by fibrotic and inflammatory process that
causes continuous transformation from severe hepatitis to cirrhosis and then to cancer of liver. Chronic liver disorders is usually caused by type-2 diabetes, insulin
resistance, abnormal metabolism of carbohydrate and lipid, virus, alcohol and xenobiotic (Loguercio et al. 2001). Consistently, oxidative stress plays a vital role in
pathogenesis of hepatic injuries. In the liver, activated inflammatory cells like the
Kupffer cells, macrophages as well as the cytochrome p450 of injured hepatic cells
and mitochondrial enzymes are main source of ROS (Tilg and Diehl 2000; Parola
and Robino 2001). High level of these ROS species do not only degenerate macromolecules like DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and other biomolecules but
also induce transcription of biochemical modulators like cytokines, which regulate
cellular and tissue events (Tilg and Diehl 2000; Parola and Robino 2001).
Carotenoids, like other micronutrients with antioxidant activity, it may be essential
in protecting cells against oxidative stress by effectively attenuating free radicals
and singlet oxygen production (Fig. 20.4). Thus preventing continuous disease of
the liver (Sugiura 2013). Carotenoids accumulates in the liver, where they are combined into lipoproteins to aid their transportation in extracellular fluid. They inhibits
the formation of liver damage. β-carotene, lutein, β-crytoxanthin and lycopene are
some examples of carotenoids they possesses antioxidiant properties againgst lipid
peroxidation in rat hepatocytes (Chen and Tappel 1996; Whittaker et al. 1996). In a
study, it was reported that the level of antioxidant micronutrients such as zinc, selenium and β-carotene were significantly reduced in group consisting of alcoholic
patients compared to group consisting of non-alcoholic patients. The groups were
further subdivided in respect to liver injury; the β-carotene indicated a continuous
reduction in plasma with corresponding increase of liver damage (Ward and Peters
1992). In a similar study, group consisting patients with alcohol abuse with nonalcoholic cirrhosis had a significant decrease in the plasma level of total carotenoids
such as β-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, cryptoxanthin, α-carotene and lycopene
compared to control group (Van de Casteele et al. 2002). Carotenoids may be
involve in the antioxidant defense cascade in biological systems when they occur in
20 Carotenoids as Functional Bioactive Compounds