Let carotenoids be the medicine…
Carotenoids are the most common lipid soluble (long unsaturated alkyl chains in carotenoids are responsible for lipophilicity) phytonutrients. Among more than 500 different compounds, Lycopene and β-carotene are the most prominent carotenoids. Processes like lipid peroxidation generate peroxyl radicals and these peroxyl radicals damage the lipids in the cell wall. Among many other ROS, carotenoids are capable of scavenging the peroxyl radicals (reacting with them by forming resonance stabilized carbon-centered radicals) more efficiently. Significant number of conjugated double bonds are mainly responsible for the quenching of singlet oxygen and demonstration of antioxidant activity of Lycopene. Reports reveal that singlet oxygen quenching ability of Lycopene is stronger than β-carotene. β-Carotene, naturally occurring orange-coloured carotenoid, abundantly found in the yellow-orange fruits and in dark-green leafy vegetables shows probable antioxidant properties due to its chemical structure and the interaction with biological membranes.
Curcumin, a wonder drug in waiting…
Curcumin is a bis-α, β-unsaturated β-diketone and it shows keto–enol tautomerism. Curcumin is lipid soluble and exhibits remarkable antioxidant activity. Phenolic -OH group present in curcumin is chiefly accountable for the radical scavenging activity of this skeleton along with methylene unit present in such β-diketone framework.
