摘要
Carotenoids are fat-soluble pigments responsible for the yellow color of corn, the orange color of pumpkins, the red color of tomatoes, and the green color of many vegetables. Carotenoids are compounds of particular interest because of their extensive use in dietary supplements. They attract major interest because of their potential antiaging and other beneficial properties, presumably based on their function as natural antioxidants. There are two commonly accepted classes of carotenoids: (a) carotens, composed of only carbon and hydrogen, and (b) oxycarotenoids, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. This chapter reviews the distribution and potential protective activity of carotenoids and oxycarotenoids in the human body and explores new potential strategies to explain the causal link between oxidative stress and skin aging. The primary role of carotenoids in nature is to protect from ultraviolet rays the chlorophyll found in plant leaves. Carotenoids also help chlorophyll to absorb light energy. They act like excellent antioxidants by quenching singlet oxygen, reactive oxygen species, and the free radicals that are by-products of metabolic processes in vegetable and human cells or environmental pollutants. Both carotenoids and oxycarotenoids seem capable of preventing UV-induced DNA damage, protecting both the human eyes and skin against photoaging. Their regular, long-term consumption may improve antioxidant defense in vivo and thus help to lower risks associated with diseases caused by oxidative damage.
摘要译文
类胡萝卜素是负责黄色玉米，南瓜的橙色，西红柿的红色，和许多蔬菜的绿色脂溶性色素。类胡萝卜素是特别感兴趣的，因为它们在膳食补充剂广泛使用的化合物。他们吸引，因为其潜在的抗衰老和其它有益的性能，想必基于其功能的天然抗氧化剂的主要兴趣。有类胡萝卜素两种普遍接受的类：（1）carotens，仅由碳和氢组成，和（b）oxycarotenoids，碳，氢，和氧组成。本章回顾了类胡萝卜素和oxycarotenoids在人体内的分布和潜在的保护活动，并探索新的潜在的战略来解释氧化应激和皮肤老化之间的因果关系。在自然界中类胡萝卜素的主要作用是从紫外线在植物中发现的叶绿素叶保护。类胡萝卜素也有助于叶绿素吸收光能。它们像优良抗氧化剂通过淬火单线态氧，活性氧和自由基是副产品在蔬菜和人细胞或环境污染物代谢过程。两个类胡萝卜素和oxycarotenoids似乎能够防止紫外线引起的DNA损伤，保护人的眼睛和皮肤既针对光老化。他们定期，长期食用可以改善体内抗氧化防御，从而有助于降低所造成的氧化损伤疾病的风险。
Pierfrancesco Morganti, PhD[1]. Chapter 9 – The Antioxidant Benefits of Oral Carotenoids for Protecting the Skin Against Photoaging. Nutritional Cosmetics[M].NL: Elsevier, 2009: 185-198