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Cancer prevention by natural carotenoids
Author(s) -
Nishino Hoyoku
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4644(1997)27+<86::aid-jcb14>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - carotenoid , phytoene , lycopene , beta carotene , lutein , cancer , cancer prevention , carcinogenesis , food science , potency , biology , biochemistry , in vitro , genetics
Epidemiological investigations have shown that cancer risk is inversely related to the consumption of green and yellow vegetables and fruits. Since β‐carotene is present in abundance in these vegetables and fruits, it has been investigated extensively as a possible cancer preventive agent. However, various carotenoids that coexist with β‐carotene in vegetables and fruits also have anticarcinogenic activity. Some of them, such as α‐carotene, showed higher potency than β‐carotene in suppressing experimental carcinogenesis. Thus, we have carried out more extensive studies on cancer‐preventive activities of natural carotenoids, which found that lycopene and lutein had potent anticarcinogenic activity. In the present study, the cancer‐preventive activity of phytoene was also comfirmed biotechonologically when mammalian cells producing phytoene were resistant to H‐ ras ‐induced cell transformation. Further studies on various natural carotenoids besides β‐carotene should be continued to obtain more information about the potential of natural carotenoids in the field of cancer prevention. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 27:86–91. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.