Beta Carotene

详情

Beta Carotene

The name "carotene" was first coined in the early *9th Century by the scientist Wachenroder after he crystallized this compound from carrot roots. Beta-carotene is a member of the carotenoids, which are highly pigmented (red, orange, yellow), fat-soluble compounds naturally present in many fruits, grains, oils, and vegetables (green plants, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, apricots, and green peppers). Alpha, beta, and gamma carotene are considered provitamins because they can be converted to active vitamin A.

The carotenes possess antioxidant properties. Vitamin A serves several biological functions including involvement in the synthesis of certain glycoproteins. Vitamin A deficiency leads to abnormal bone development, disorders of the reproductive system, xerophthalmia (a drying condition of the cornea of the eye), and ultimately death.

Mechanism

β-Carotene is a strongly-colored red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits. It is an organic compound and chemically is classified as a hydrocarbon and specifically as a terpenoid (isoprenoid), reflecting its derivation from isoprene units. β-Carotene is biosynthesized from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.It is a member of the carotenes, which are tetraterpenes, synthesized biochemically from eight isoprene units and thus having *0 carbons. Among this general class of carotenes, β-carotene is distinguished by having beta-rings at both ends of the molecule. Absorption of β-carotene is enhanced if eaten with fats, as carotenes are fat soluble.

Carotene is the substance in carrots, pumpkins and sweet potatoes that colors them orange and is the most common form of carotene in plants. When used as a food coloring, it has the E number E**0a. The structure was deduced by Karrer et al. in ***0.In nature, β-carotene is a precursor (inactive form) to vitamin A via the action of beta-carotene *5,*5'-monooxygenase.Isolation of β-carotene from fruits abundant in carotenoids is commonly done using column chromatography. The separation of β-carotene from the mixture of other carotenoids is based on the polarity of a compound. β-Carotene is a non-polar compound, so it is separated with a non-polar solvent such as hexane.Being highly conjugated, it is deeply colored, and as a hydrocarbon lacking functional groups, it is very lipophilic.

Applications

• Dietary Supplements

• Functional Beverages

• Food Additives

• Forage Additive

• Pharmaceutical Ingredients

• Cosmetics

Safety

Although the safe, non-toxic upper limit of the amount of beta-carotene that can be administered to a human has not yet been determined, it is believed that such an upper limit is at least ***0 mg/day.

Dosage

Beta-carotene is a component of a normal human diet, and the recommended daily requirement of beta-carotene for a normal adult human is about 3 mg. Although beta-carotene is provided through normal diet, the amounts of beta-carotene useful in the present invention typically can not be provided by normal diet. This is because the foods that supply beta-carotene in the normal diet contain various other substances. If sufficient amounts of these foods were consumed to provide the necessary amounts of beta-carotene, these other substances would be consumed in toxic amounts. Furthermore, approximately ****5 percent of the carotenoids consumed in a normal diet are not absorbed and are excreted in the feces relatively unchanged. Therefore, beta-carotene is supplied in the methods of the present invention through supplementation. Commercially available forms of beta-carotene are available, for example, from Hoffman-LaRoche under the trademark SOLATENE™ or as “beta-carotene”.

Packing:
*5kg/drum (*5kg net weight, *8kg gross weight; Packed in a cardboard-drum with two plastic-bags inside; Drum Size: **0mm high, **0mm diameter) 
Customized package is available upon request

Commercially available beta-carotene is produced synthetically or from palm oil, algae, or fungi. Beta-carotene is converted to retinol, which is essential for vision and is subsequently converted to retinoic acid, which is used for processes involving growth and cell differentiation.