beta-Carotene

Chemical Properties

β-carotene pure product is deep red or dark red, shiny rhombohedral hexahedron or crystalline powder. Almost insoluble in water, inorganic acids, inorganic bases, glycerol, propylene glycol, slightly soluble in methanol, ethanol, cyclohexane, soluble in petroleum ether, ethyl ether, oil, soluble in carbon disulfide, acetone, benzene, chloroform. Dilute solution is yellow. It is not stable to light and heat. It is easily oxidized by air to physiologically inactive substances.

Uses

β-Carotene-13C10 (Provitamin A-13C10) is the 13C-labeled β-Carotene (HY-N0411). β-Carotene (Provitamin A), a carotenoid compound, is a naturally-occurring vitamin A precursor. β-Carotene is a modulator of reactive oxygen species (ROS), with antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. β-Carotene may serve as an antioxidant or as a prooxidant, depending on its intrinsic properties as well as on the redox potential of the biological environment in which it acts. β-Carotene induces breast cancer cells apoptosis, with anticancer activities[1][2][3][4][5].

References

[1] Tanumihardjo, S.A., Factors influencing the conversion of carotenoids to retinol: bioavailability to bioconversion to bioefficacy. Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 2002. 72(1): p. 40-5. DOI:10.1024/0300-9831.72.1.40
[2] Leo, M.A., et al. Alcohol, vitamin A, and beta-carotene: adverse interactions, including hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Am J Clin Nutr, 1999. 69(6): p. 1071-85. DOI:10.1093/ajcn/69.6.1071
[3] Yanhong Cui, et al. beta-Carotene induces apoptosis and up-regulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma expression and reactive oxygen species production in MCF-7 cancer cells. Eur J Cancer. 2007 Nov;43(17):2590-601. DOI:10.1016/j.ejca.2007.08.015
[4] AKIFUMI KAWATA, et al. Anti-inflammatory Activity of β-Carotene, Lycopene and Tri-n-butylborane, a Scavenger of Reactive Oxygen Species. In Vivo. 2018 Mar-Apr; 32(2): 255-264. DOI:10.21873/invivo.11232
[5] Paola Palozza, et al. Prooxidant effects of beta-carotene in cultured cells. Mol Aspects Med. 2003 Dec;24(6):353-62. DOI:10.1016/s0098-2997(03)00031-1