Carotenoid composition and retinol equivalent in plants of nutritional and medicinal importance: Efficacy of b-carotene from Chenopodium album in retinol-deficient rats

Sangeetha, Ravi Kumar and Baskaran, V. (2010) Carotenoid composition and retinol equivalent in plants of nutritional and medicinal importance: Efficacy of b-carotene from Chenopodium album in retinol-deficient rats. Food Chemistry, 119. pp. 1584-1590.

PDF Food_Chemistry,_Volume_119,_Issue_4,_15_April_2010,_Pages_1584-1590.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (278kB)

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) quantify carotenoids in leafy vegetables and plants of nutritional and medicinal importance, (2) evaluate retinol equivalent (RE) of provitamin-A carotenoids and (3) determine efficacy of b-carotene from Chenopodium album and to compare with retinol formed on feeding to retinol-deficient rats for 3 weeks. b-Carotene and lutein contents (mg/100 g dry weight) ranged from 1.5 to 120 and 11.7 to 185 (leafy greens) and 0.4 to 34.7 and 11.8 to 679 (medicinal plants) whereas, a-carotene ranged from 0.3 to 35.6 (leafy greens) and 0.1 to 15.7 (medicinal plants). RE values (mg%) ranged from 0.4 to 20 and 0.42 to 5.8 in leafy greens and medicinal plants. Efficacy of b-carotene (2400 lg/kg diet) from C. album in retinol-deficient rats revealed a 93.6% rise in plasma retinol levels from 0.53 to 8.4 lM. The plants analysed are a good source of retinol precursors and biologically active lutein; therefore can be exploited to meet carotenoid requirements.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Lutein b-Carotene Retinol equivalent Green leafy vegetables Medicinal plants
Subjects:	600 Technology > 08 Food technology > 20 Plant Food
Divisions:	Dept. of Biochemistry
Depositing User:	Food Sci. & Technol. Information Services
Date Deposited:	24 Feb 2010 11:27
Last Modified:	28 Dec 2011 10:13
URI:	http://ir.cftri.res.in/id/eprint/9325

Actions (login required)

View Item