Description
β-Caroteneisared-orangeterpenepigmentoriginallyfoundinvariousplantsandfruits;itisaprodrugforvitaminA.β-Caroteneexhibitsantioxidative,cytoprotective,anticancer,anti-inflammatory,anti-hyperlipidemic,andanti-obesityactivities.β-Caroteneisusedinresearchmodelstoquantifyantioxidativeactivity.Inbonemarrowcells,β-caroteneprotectsagainstrADIoactiveisotope-inducedDNAdamage.Inbreastcancercells,thiscompoundinducescellcyclearrestandapoptosis,decreasingcellularviABIlity.β-Carotenedecreasestotalcholesterol,VLDLandLDLlevels,suppressesexpressionofSREBP2andLDL-R,andincreasesexpressionofPPARαinvivo.Inotheranimalmodels,thiscompounddecreasesbodyfatandadipocytesizeandsuppressesTNF-α-inducedinflammation.