Why Do We Expect Carotenoids to be Antioxidants<i>in vivo?</i>

Rice‐Evans, Catherine; Sampson, Julia; Bramley, Peter M.; Holloway, Daniel E.

doi:10.3109/10715769709097818

Cited by 316 publications

(170 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…Long-tailed males are usually very attractive to females (Møller 1994), and they are also usually in prime health status as indicated by high plasma levels of carotenoids and low circulating levels of leukocytes and immunoglobulins . Because carotenoids have the dual function of immuno-enhancement and freeradical scavenging, long-tailed males from Chernobyl may face a different trade-off between use of carotenoids for signals and free-radical scavenging when compared to males from other populations (Ames 1983;Krinsky 1989Krinsky , 1998Edge et al 1997;Rice-Evans et al 1997;Bast et al 1998;Rao and Agarwal 1999; for an extensive review, see Møller et al 2000). Hill (1999) suggested that these patterns were not clear, but he based this conclusion on a very small fraction of the available evidence, which is fully reviewed in Møller et al (2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Albinism and Phenotype of Barn Swallows (Hirundo Rustica) From Chernobyl

Møller

Mousseau

2001

Evolution

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Abstract. The effects of mutation on phenotypic expression are supposed to be mainly deleterious because mutations disrupt the expression of genes that function relatively well under current environmental conditions. Thus, mutations are assumed to give rise to deviant phenotypes that are generally selected against. Radioactive contamination in the Chernobyl region of Ukraine is associated with a significant increase by a factor two to 10 in mutation rate in microsatellite markers of the barn swallow, Hirundo rustica. Barn swallows from Chernobyl had a temporally constant, elevated frequency of partial albinism compared to the situation before radioactive contamination and compared to birds from a control area. Albinism disproportionately affected the carotenoid-based plumage of the head, suggesting that carotenoid metabolism is particularly susceptible to the effects of radiation. Individuals with partially albinistic plumage had, on average, lower mean phenotypic values than other birds, and this was particularly the case for males. Furthermore, differences in phenotypic variation, as determined using Levene's test, were significantly larger in partial albinos compared to nonalbinos in males, but not in females, even though the null expectation would be the opposite due to the lower mean phenotypic values of partial albinos. Although small phenotypes were commonly associated with germline mutations, there was no general decrease in overall body size during the period 1991-2000, implying that small individuals were selected against. Because partial albinism is disfavored by natural selection, the effects of mutations are deleterious, giving rise to a balance between mutation and selection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Albinism and Phenotype of Barn Swallows (Hirundo Rustica) From Chernobyl

Møller

Mousseau

2001

Evolution

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“…A deficiency of antioxidants such as carotenoids and vitamins A and E can increase DNA damage caused by free radicals (Ames 1983;Edge et al 1997;Bast et al 1998;Krinsky 1998;Rice-Evans et al 1997;Møller et al 2000). Radiation has been proposed to reduce levels of antioxidants that are used for DNA repair because antioxidants are used for removing free radicals that arise owing to radiation (Ben-Amotz et al 1998;Ivaniota et al 1998;Neyfakh et al 1998a,b;Kumerova et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antioxidants, radiation and mutation as revealed by sperm abnormality in barn swallows from Chernobyl

2005

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Reduced levels of antioxidants such as carotenoids and vitamins A and E can increase DNA damage caused by free radicals. Exposure to radiation has been proposed to reduce levels of antioxidants that are used for DNA repair and this reduction may be responsible for increased levels of mutation in radioactively contaminated areas. We test this hypothesis using field measures of antioxidants in blood, liver and eggs of the barn swallow Hirundo rustica while relating these to levels of mutation as reflected by the frequency of abnormal sperm. Antioxidant levels in blood, liver and eggs were reduced in Chernobyl, Ukraine, compared with an uncontaminated control area, and levels of antioxidants correlated negatively with levels of background radiation. The frequency of abnormal sperm was almost an order of magnitude higher in Chernobyl than in the control area and was negatively related to antioxidant levels in blood and liver. This is consistent with the hypothesis of a direct link between radiation and individual levels of antioxidants, suggesting that levels of mutation differ among individuals owing to individual differences in the abundance of antioxidants.

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“…10,11) It has been reported that some synthetic antioxidant compounds such as butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole, commonly used in processed foods, have side effects. 12,13) Therefore, investigations on identifying the natural antioxidants have become very important issue. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] In this study, the leaves of Syrian oreganum (Origanum syriacum L.) were screened for their antioxidant activity as well as antimicrobial properties and chemical composition.…”

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confidence: 99%

Screening Chemical Composition and in Vitro Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oils from Origanum syriacum L. Growing in Turkey

Alma

Mavi

Yıldırım

et al. 2003

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin

201

128

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Essential (volatile) oils of herbs and their components, products from the secondary metabolism of a plant, have many applications in folk medicine, food flavoring and preservation as well as in the fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. The antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of essential oils have been known for a long time, and a number of investigations have been conducted on their antimicrobial activities using various bacteria, viruses and fungi. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Free radicals, e.g., superoxide ions (O 2 · Ϫ ), hydroxyl radicals (OH · ) and non-free radical compounds, can be responsible for lipid peroxidation (deterioration) in foods [7][8][9] and for various diseases such as malaria, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, heart disease, stroke, arteriosclerosis, diabetes and cancer etc. 10,11) It has been reported that some synthetic antioxidant compounds such as butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole, commonly used in processed foods, have side effects. 12,13) Therefore, investigations on identifying the natural antioxidants have become very important issue. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] In this study, the leaves of Syrian oreganum (Origanum syriacum L.) were screened for their antioxidant activity as well as antimicrobial properties and chemical composition.O. syriacum is native to the eastern Mediterranean, southern Europe and western Asia, and is cultivated in many parts of the world and commonly called Syrian oreganum, bible hyssop or wild marjoram. The descriptions of O. syriacum are as follows: Subshrub to 90 cm, hirsute-tomentose. Branches to 10 pairs per stem, to 10 a lenght of cm. Leaves petiolate or subsessile (petiole to 8 mm), ovate, 5-35ϫ4-23 mm, acute or obtuse, entire or remotely serrulate or crenulate, veins raised on lower surface. Spicules in paniculate inflorescence, c. 5-25ϫ4 mm. Bracts obovate or elliptic, 2-5ϫ1.5-3.5 mm, acute or obtuse, entire or denticulate. Calyx c. 2.5 mm. Corolla 4.5-7.5 mm. Fl. 5-10. Calcareous rocks and slopes, often in partial shade, 200-2700 m. 22)The leaves of O. syriacum, a very popular Arab spice, have been used as an herbal (traditional) medicine, flavour, fragrance and for aromatherapy in the form of bath, massage, steam inhalation, and vapurization. 23,24) It is used in teas and cooked or baked foods. It has a strong oregano flavor and also is thought to be the "Hyssop" mentioned in the Bible and to have powers of spiritual purification.The essential oils from the leaves of Syrian oreganum reportedly have ovicidal, 25) bioherbicidal, 24) insecticidal, 26,27) antifungal 28) and antimycotic activities.29) The present study was undertaken to verify the chemical composition, antioxidant activities and antimicrobial activities of these oils from leaves of this plant growing in maquis in the southern part of Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this study, the leaves of Syrian oreganum [Origanum syriacum L. Science, Hiroshima University; 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan. Received June 19, 2003; accepted August 5, 200...

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Why Do We Expect Carotenoids to be Antioxidantsin vivo?

Cited by 316 publications

References 81 publications

Albinism and Phenotype of Barn Swallows (Hirundo Rustica) From Chernobyl

Albinism and Phenotype of Barn Swallows (Hirundo Rustica) From Chernobyl

Antioxidants, radiation and mutation as revealed by sperm abnormality in barn swallows from Chernobyl

Screening Chemical Composition and in Vitro Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oils from Origanum syriacum L. Growing in Turkey

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