The Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Effects of Carotenoids: A Review

Abstract

Carotenoids are a big group of phytochemicals that have a wide variety of protective and medical properties. They are widespread in plants and photosynthetic bacteria and have many medical functions. Here in this article, we studied antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of four kinds of carotenoids (lutein, lycopene, beta-carotene and astaxanthin) besides briefly defining them and also mentioned some of their plant sources. So, we can say, the aim of this study was to show some of the ways they can lower blood glucose and prevent the oxidant damages. Many articles, including originals and reviews were scanned in this way, but only a few had a suitable data. All of our references were articles has been collected electronically from valid journals and databases including PubMed, Science Direct, Elsevier, Springer and Google scholar. Beta-carotene is the most widely carotenoid in food prevent cancer and triggers the release of insulin and like lutein its antioxidant is useful for the prevention of macular degeneration. Lutein has also anticancer effects and reduces the ROS levels in the retina with diabetes. Lycopene helps to protect diabetes patients with cardiovascular disease. Astaxanthin has significant hypoglycemic effects. Both of lycopene and astaxanthin have powerful antioxidant activity. We suggest that each of these phytochemicals produces a kind of protect against diabetes and oxidative damages and also have other medical functions like anticancer, anti-inflammatory but further and deeper investigations are required in this field.

Optimization of Carotenoids Production from Rhodotorula sp. Strain ATL72 for Enhancing Its Biotechnological Applications

“…The maximum amount of the carotenoid's concentration was obtained on run numbers (16 and 18) achieving 25.14 mg/L. Meanwhile, the minimum amount was obtained on run number (9) where the concentration of carotenoids was reduced to 1.79 mg/L. The maximum growth of the isolated yeast Rhodotorula ATL72 was obtained on run numbers (16 and 18) achieving 0.866 at O.D 600 .…”

“…Carotenoids have a significant medical, industrial, food and pharmaceutical importance due to their antioxidative function, which increases their activity against chronic and cancer diseases and also enhance immunity and vision [9].Carotenoids were reported to have antioxidant, anticancer, and antiobesity effects [10,11]. Synthetic carotenoids have a deleterious effect on the environment and public health compared to natural pigments.…”

Effects of Spirulina platensis on insulin secretion, dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity and both carbohydrate digestion and absorption indicate potential as an adjunctive therapy for diabetes

“…This composition is in general agreement with the previous research (38,39) . Recent studies also claim that these compounds have antioxidant properties, trigger insulin secretion and have antihyperglycaemic activity (53)(54)(55) .…”

Carotenoids: Therapeutic Strategy in the Battle against Viral Emerging Diseases, COVID-19: An Overview

“…Carotenoids may be described as carotenes that have cyclized or acyclized hydrocarbon end groups, or as xanthophyll, which has oxygenated end groups (hydroxyl, epoxy, carbonyl, etc.). Furthermore, many carotenoid groups contain provitamin A and can be enzymatically converted in the intestinal mucosa to yield retinol (vitamin A) ( Sayahi and Shirali, 2017 ).…”