Antiangiogenic properties of carotenoids: A potential role of maize as functional food

Abstract

XanthophyllsLutein Zeaxanthin Angiogenic inhibitor CAM assay A B S T R A C T Several human disorders are associated with neovascularization. The current in vivo study examines the effect in the blood vessel formation of a xanthophyll-rich seed extract of maize. The angiostatic effects of treatment with maize seed carotenoid extract (0.1-10 lM of zeaxanthin equivalent/implant) were evaluated in the chick yolk sac membrane (YSM) (12-50% inhibition, P < 0.05) as well as in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay (23-52% inhibition, P < 0.05) as compared to control group. A similar inhibitory action was found by treatments with the retinoic acid (10 lM/embryo, 49% and 57% inhibition) and commercial lutein (10 lM/embryo, 65% and 55% inhibition) (positive controls) performed in the YSM and CAM, respectively. Results point to maize seeds as interesting sources of xanthophylls which effectively inhibited the process of vessel formation, suggesting a potential role of such compounds in the prevention of diseases associated with vascular dysfunction.

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“…Kurilich et al, [25] analyzed several different corn genotypes for the pigment content and found a level of lutein between 0.1 and 20µg/g while the level of zeaxanthin was between 0.01 and 8µg/g. Kuhnen et al, [26], analyzing a maize variety cultivated in southern Brazil, found a zeaxanthin content of 7µg/g and a lutein content of 3.7µg/g, a result comparable with the one obtained in this study. From HPLC analysis of the maize cultivars, a higher level of zeaxanthin than lutein was found in all the varieties examined except for the Haiti, where the level of the two carotenoids was almost the same.…”

Genetic variability for carotenoid content of grains in a composite maize population

“…Referring to grain yield, MPA1-C0 proved to be outstanding in two trials carried out in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 in Canoinhas (SC), Brazil (26º10'37"; 50º23'43"). The results showed a variation in grain yield for 22 LMV (3.1 to 6.9 t ha ) make MPA1-C0 economically viable (Kuhnen et al, 2009;Kist et al, 2010;Kuhnen et al, 2010;, and due to this attribute it provides a potential way to improve the income of these farmers. When comparing the means of HSF obtained from the population evaluated in this study (MPA1-C1) with the value reported by Kuhnen et al (2011) in the original population (MPA1-C0), these authors observed an average that was slightly higher (18.8 µg g -1 ), although it is within the range of variation (11 to 23 µg g -1 ) found in this study.…”

“…The TCC was determined according to Lambert-Beer law, using a molar extinction coefficient (e) of 2,348 M -1 cm -1 (zeaxanthin), as described by Britton and Goodwin (1982). The molar extinction coefficient of zeaxanthin was used because this is the major carotenoid contained in the MPA1-C0 maize population (Kuhnen et al, 2009).…”

“…Several studies have been performed to investigate the genetic potential of maize populations for TCC (Kurilich and Juvik, 1999;Welch, 2002;Hulshof et al, 2007;Harjes et al, 2008;Kuhnen et al, 2009), especially in elite lines and hybrids, which have been improved with a view to enhancing their economic exploitation as biofortified food. However, the literature is scarce on information concerning the chemical composition of grains of LMV, particularly where reference is made to secondary metabolites.…”

Brazilian Maize Landraces Silks as Source of Lutein: An Important Carotenoid in the Prevention of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

“…However, there is increasing interest in these xanthophylls, since several benefits to human health have been attributed to them, e.g. antioxidant, protective activities against UV radiation, anti-angiogenic, reduction of the risk of atherosclerosis, anti-carcinogenic, and especially age-related macular degeneration (AMD) [2][3][4][5][6][7]. In fact, lutein is know to many as "the eye-protective nutriente" [8].…”