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The Passiflora genus is recognised for its ethnopharmacological, sensorial, and nutritional significance. Yet, the screening of its dietary and bioactive molecules has mainly targeted hydrophilic metabolites. Following the PRISMA-P protocol, this review assessed the current knowledge on carotenoid composition and analysis within Passiflora, examining 968 records from seven databases and including 17 studies focusing on carotenoid separation and identification in plant parts. Those publications originated in America and Asia. P. edulis was the most frequently examined species of a total of ten, while pulp was the most studied plant part (16 studies). Carotenoid analysis involved primarily high-performance liquid chromatography separation on C18 columns and detection using diode array detectors (64.71%). Most studies identified the provitamin A ß-carotene and xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin, with their geometric configuration often neglected. Only one study described carotenoid esters. Besides the methodology's insufficient description, the lack of use of more accurate techniques and practices led to a high risk of bias in the carotenoid assignment in 17.65% of the articles. This review highlights the opportunity to broaden carotenoid studies to other species and parts within the diverse Passiflora genus, especially to wild, locally available fruits, which may have a strategic role in enhancing food diversity and security amidst climatic changes. Additionally, it urges the use of more accurate and efficient analytical methods based on green chemistry to better identify Passiflora carotenoids.

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BACKGROUND: Avocado fruit is rich in xanthophylls, which have been related to positive effects on human health. Xanthophyl acetyltransferases (XATs) are enzymes catalyzing the esterification of carboxylic acids to the hydroxyl group of the xanthophyll molecule. This esterification is thought to increase the lipophilic nature of the xanthophyll and its stability in a lipophilic environment. Studies on XATs in fruits are very scarce, and no studies had been carried out in avocado fruit during postharvest. The objective of this work was to investigate the changes in the expression of genes encoding XAT, during avocado fruit ripening. RESULTS: Avocado fruits were obtained from a local market and stored at 15 °C for 8 days. The fruit respiration rate, ethylene production, and fruit peel's color space parameters (L*, a*, b*) were measured during storage. Fruit mesocarp samples were taken after 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of storage and frozen with liquid nitrogen. Total RNA was extracted from fruit mesocarp, and the quantification of the two genes designated as COGE_ID: 936743791 and COGE_ID: 936800185 encoding XATs was performed with real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using actin as a reference gene. The presence of a climacteric peak and large changes in color were recorded during postharvest. The two genes studied showed a large expression after 3 days of fruit storage. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that during the last stages of ripening in avocado fruit there was an active esterification of xanthophylls with carboxylic acids, which suggests the presence of esterified xanthophylls in the fruit mesocarp. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

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Carotenoids are natural products regulated by the food sector, currently used as feed dyes and as antioxidants in dietary supplements and composing functional foods for human consumption. Of the nearly one thousand carotenoids described to date, only retinoids, derived from beta carotene, have the status of a drug and are regulated by the pharmaceutical sector. In this review, we address a novel field: the transformation of xanthophylls, particularly the highly marketed astaxanthin and the practically unknown bacterioruberin, in therapeutic agents by altering their pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and pharmacodynamics through their formulation as nanomedicines. The antioxidant activity of xanthophylls is mediated by routes different from those of the classical oral anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): remarkably, xanthophylls lack therapeutic activity but also lack toxicity. Formulated as nanomedicines, xanthophylls gain therapeutic activity by mechanisms other than increased bioavailability. Loaded into ad hoc tailored nanoparticles to protect their structure throughout storage and during gastrointestinal transit or skin penetration, xanthophylls can be targeted and delivered to selected inflamed cell groups, achieving a massive intracellular concentration after endocytosis of small doses of formulation. Most first reports showing the activities of oral and topical anti-inflammatory xanthophyll-based nanomedicines against chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and dry eye disease emerged between 2020 and 2023. Here we discuss in detail their preclinical performance, mostly targeted vesicular and polymeric nanoparticles, on cellular models and in vivo. The results, although preliminary, are auspicious enough to speculate upon their potential use for oral or topical administration in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

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Lutein and zeaxanthin are the major xanthophyll pigments found in corn kernels. These pigments provide the orange-red color of the broiler chicken skin and of the egg yolk. Therefore, knowing the corn xanthophyll content is important for the poultry feed producer. The objective of this study was to determine the lutein and the zeaxanthin content in corn cultivated in Colombia and in corn imported to Colombia from the United States, Argentina, and Brazil. Large differences in total lutein plus zeaxanthin content were found among the corn samples analyzed, with the highest mean level found in Colombian corn (2,758µg/100g), followed by Argentina (1,861µg/100g), United States (1,041µg/100g) and Brazil (947µg/100g). Large differences in lutein plus zeaxanthin content were also found among different corn hybrids cultivated in Colombia. Differences among geographical regions might be due to differences in UV-B radiation or in the light hours received by the crop during its growth. The differences among different corn hybrids might probably be due to genetic differences. Corn growers might be interested in cultivating hybrids higher in lutein and zeaxanthin as these pigments are very important in poultry production and human eye health.

Luteína e zeaxantina são os principais pigmentos xantofilas encontrados nos grãos de milho. Em aves, esses pigmentos naturais conferem a cor vermelho-alaranjada típica da pele do frango de corte e da gema do ovo. Assim, é importante conhecer o teor de xantofilas do milho utilizado nas dietas de aves. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o teor de luteína e zeaxantina em milho cultivado na Colômbia e em milho importado para a Colômbia dos Estados Unidos, da Argentina e do Brasil. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas no teor de luteína total mais zeaxantina entre as amostras de milho analisadas, com o nível médio mais elevado no milho colombiano (2.758µg/100g), seguido pelo milho argentino (1.861µg/100g), pelo milho dos Estados Unidos (1.041µg/100g) e pelo milho brasileiro (947µg/100g). Grandes diferenças no teor de luteína e zeaxantina também foram encontradas entre variados híbridos de milho cultivados na Colômbia. As diferenças entre as regiões geográficas podem ser devido a diferenças na radiação UV-B ou nas horas de luz recebida pela cultura durante seu crescimento. As diferenças entre os diversos híbridos de milho provavelmente podem ser devido a diferenças genéticas. Os produtores de milho podem estar interessados ​​em cultivar híbridos mais ricos em luteína e zeaxantina, pois esses pigmentos são muito importantes na produção de aves e na saúde ocular humana.

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The present study focuses on an introductory analysis of the use of three xanthophylls as additives for green lubricant applications. For this purpose, the additives were characterized by FTIR and 1H-NMR techniques, and the bio-lubricants were described by their physical properties. The effect of the natural compounds on the friction and wear properties of bio-lubricants were evaluated by sliding friction tests under boundary conditions, as confirmed by an analysis of the lubricating film thickness. The antioxidant capacity was analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. It was observed better wear protection in castor oil with xanthophylls than without these additives. The wear rate was reduced up to 50% compared with neat oil. Lesser beneficial effects were appreciated in friction coefficient since it was increased 25%. The best contribution was observed with astaxanthin as an additive. In addition, a significant improvement in the oxidation of castor oil, complemented with this additive, was exhibited by FTIR analysis. It was found that xanthophylls could be employed as additives for totally biodegradable lubricant applications since they have better tribological and antioxidant behavior than current additives.

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The composition of microalgae can contribute to nutritious and functional diets. Among the functional compounds, carotenoids are in focus since positive effects on human health have been established, which are in turn related to their bioaccessibility. In addition to essential nutrients, our hypothesis was that microalgae biomasses could be used as sources of bioaccessible carotenoids. Thus, this study determined for the first time the bioaccessibility of carotenoids from biomass of Scenedesmus bijuga and Chlorella sorokiniana and their possible relationship with the lipid composition of the matrix. The samples were submitted to in vitro digestion protocol, and carotenoids were determined by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS. Individual bioaccessibility of carotenoids was ≥ 3.25%. In general, compounds in their cis conformation were more bioaccessible than trans; and total carotenes more than total xanthophylls. Twelve compounds were bioaccessible from the biomass of S. bijuga, and eight in C. sorokiniana. In S. bijuga, the bioaccessibility of total carotenoids was 7.30%, and the major bioaccessible carotenoids were 9-cis-ß-carotene (43.78%), 9-cis-zeaxanthin (42.30%) followed by 9-cis-lutein (26.73%); while in C. sorokiniana, the total bioaccessibility was 8.03%, and 9-cis-ß-carotene (26.18%), all-trans-ß-carotene (13.56%), followed by 13-cis-lutein (10.71%) were the major compounds. Overall, the total content of lipids does not influence the bioaccessibility of total carotenoids. Still, the lipid composition, including structural characteristics such as degree of saturation and chain length of the fatty acid, impacts the promotion of individual bioaccessibility of carotenes and xanthophylls of microalgae. Finally, the results of this study can assist the development of microalgae-based functional food ingredients and products.

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Red alga species belonging to the Porphyra and Pyropia genera (commonly known as Nori), which are widely consumed and commercialized due to their high nutritional value. These species have a carotenoid profile dominated by xanthophylls, mostly lutein and zeaxanthin, which have relevant benefits for human health. The effects of different abiotic factors on xanthophyll synthesis in these species have been scarcely studied, despite their health benefits. The objectives of this study were (i) to identify the abiotic factors that enhance the synthesis of xanthophylls in Porphyra/Pyropia species by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of the xanthophyll content found in the literature, and (ii) to recommend a culture method that would allow a significant accumulation of these compounds in the biomass of these species. The results show that salinity significantly affected the content of total carotenoids and led to higher values under hypersaline conditions (70,247.91 µg/g dm at 55 psu). For lutein and zeaxanthin, the wavelength treatment caused significant differences between the basal and maximum content (4.16-23.47 µg/g dm). Additionally, in Pyropia spp., the total carotenoids were considerably higher than in Porphyra spp.; however, the lutein and zeaxanthin contents were lower. We discuss the specific conditions for each treatment and the relation to the ecological distribution of these species.

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Carotenoids are pigmented compounds acquired through diet that have important functions as antioxidants and immune modulators. We studied the association between immunity and circulating carotenoids in Andean condors (Vultur gryphus). We evaluated the relationship between α-, ß-, and γ-globulin blood concentrations and different circulating carotenoids in two groups of Andean condors that differ in their mean health status, rehabilitating (suffering different pathologies), and wild individuals (trapped when displaying their physiological behavior). In rehabilitating individuals, α-, ß-, and γ-globulin concentrations were higher than in wild individuals. This shows that rehabilitating individuals were developing an immune response associated with the pathologies that they were suffering at the time of sampling. In addition, circulating carotenoids were lower in rehabilitating than in wild individuals. We found negative correlations between α-, ß-, and γ-globulins and different circulating carotenoids in rehabilitating individuals, but not in wild condors. Xanthophylls were strongly related to α-, ß-, and γ-globulin blood concentrations in rehabilitating, but not in wild condors. Our results suggest that there is a potential relationship between circulating carotenoids and immunity in the Andean condor. Given that this species may display a carotenoid-based pigmentation, our results could suggest that a trade-off between the immune system and external coloration could operate in this species, which may have implications in their access to food resources and mate selection and, thus, in their conservation.

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Orange peel is a by-product produced in large amounts that acts as a source of natural pigments such as carotenoids. Xanthophylls, the main carotenoid class found in citrus fruit, can be present in its free form or esterified with fatty acids, forming esters. This esterification modifies the compound's chemical properties, affecting their bioavailability in the human body, and making it important to characterize the native carotenoid composition of food matrices. We aimed to evaluate the non-saponified carotenoid extracts of orange peel (cv. Pera) obtained using alternative green approaches: extraction with ionic liquid (IL), analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and mass spectrometry HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS, and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), followed by supercritical fluid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry detection (SFC-APCI/QqQ/MS) in an online system. Both alternative green methods were successfully applied, allowing the total identification of five free carotenoids, one apocarotenoid, seven monoesters, and 11 diesters in the extract obtained with IL and analyzed by HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS, and nine free carotenoids, six carotenoids esters, 19 apocarotenoids, and eight apo-esters with the SFE-SFC-APCI/QqQ/MS approach, including several free apocarotenoids and apocarotenoid esters identified for the first time in oranges, and particularly in the Pera variety, which could be used as a fruit authenticity parameter.

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In this study the native carotenoids composition in kumquat (Fortunella margarita) (peel + pulp) from Brazil was determined for the first time by a HPLC-DAD-APCI/MS (high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/mass spectrometry), methodology. Eleven carotenoids were successfully identified and quantified in kumquat: four carotenoids in the free form and seven carotenoids in the esterified form. ß-citraurin-laurate was the carotenoid found in the highest content (607.33 µg/100 g fresh matter), followed by ß-cryptoxanthin-laurate (552.59 µg/100 g). The different esterified forms of ß-citraurin and ß-cryptoxanthin represented 84.34% of the carotenoids found, which demonstrates the importance of esterification in natural fruits. ß-carotene and free xanthophylls (ß-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin) represented 5.50% and 14.96%, respectively, of total carotenoids in kumquat. The total carotenoid content of kumquat from Brazil was very high (2185.16 µg/100 g), suggesting that this fruit could contribute significantly to the intake of important bioactive compounds by the population.

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Carotenoids constitute a large group of lipophilic pigments whose health-promoting benefits have been widely recognized. Hydroxy-containing carotenoids can be found in both free form or esterified with fatty acids in several plant matrices, but the native carotenoid profile is overall poorly explored due to the difficulty of analyzing carotenoid esters. One of the main natural sources of carotenoids is the marigold flower, which has been extensively used by the industry for the production of food colorants or supplements, both often manufactured with no saponification process. Although lutein esters are well established as the major compounds naturally found in marigold petals and their products, carotenoid esters other than the lutein ones have not been extensively examined. We carried out a comprehensive identification of carotenoids and carotenoid esters from marigold petals by LC-DAD-(APCI+)MS/MS. Whereas 18 carotenoids were identified in the saponified extract, 56 were identified when no saponification procedure was carried out: 6 free carotenoids, 20 monoesters and 30 diesters. This is the first time that esters of zeaxanthin, violaxanthin, auroxanthin, zeinoxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin are identified in marigold. The structural information obtained through characteristic fragmentation patterns and diagnostic fragments in MS and MS/MS spectra (APCI+) sustained the differentiation between carotenoid esters with similar characteristics. Therefore, the separation of carotenoids by reversed-phase liquid chromatography using C30 columns in combination with DAD and APCI-MS/MS detection allowed high sensitivity and selectivity for carotenoid ester analysis.

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Eleven non-conventional tropical fruits were evaluated regarding their nutritional value, antioxidant potential, carotenoid contents and bioaccessibility. The fruits were chosen due to their spread through the Brazilian territory: araçá-boi, jaracatiá, cambuití, seriguela, capeba, pitangatuba, pitanga, buriti, acerola, dovialis and abricó-da-praia. Results have shown that these fruits are in general, i.e. depending on the fruit, rich sources of dietary fibers and minerals, high in moisture, and low in proteins. Twelve carotenoids were analyzed by HPLC-DAD and results ranged from 0.04 to 104 µg/g wet weight. Xanthophylls stood out, being higher than carotenes for araçá-boi, seriguela, pitangatuba and dovialis. Bioaccessibility varied both between fruits and carotenoids ranging from 2 to 75%. Although the fruit matrix effect, xanthophylls were more bioaccessible than carotenes, while lycopene and γ-carotene presented the poorest bioaccessibility. The present study is fundamental to expand the knowledge about the fruit properties, carotenoids bioaccessibility and potential benefits for health, as well to preserve natural resources and encourage the intake of new fruits for human nutrition.

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In vitro digestion methods are routinely used to assess the bioaccessibility of carotenoids and other dietary lipophilic compounds. Here, we compared the recovery of carotenoids and their efficiency of micellarization in digested fruits, vegetables, egg yolk, and salmon and also in mixed-vegetable salads with and without either egg yolk or salmon using the static INFOGEST method22 and the procedure of Failla et al.16 Carotenoid stability during the simulated digestion was ≥70%. The efficiencies of the partitioning of carotenoids into mixed micelles were similar when individual plant foods and salad meals were digested using the two static methods. Furthermore, the addition of cooked egg or salmon to vegetable salads increased the bioaccessibility of some carotenoids. Our findings showed that the two methods of in vitro digestion generated similar estimates of carotenoid retention and bioaccessibility for diverse foods.

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BACKGROUND: Microalgae have been used as food supplements owing to their high protein, polyunsaturated fatty acid and carotenoid contents. As different carotenoids have distinct properties and the carotenoid composition of microalgae has been poorly explored in the literature, this study determined the complete carotenoid composition of two microalgae species, Heterochlorella luteoviridis and Dunaliella tertiolecta, using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD/MS2 ). Additionally, the proximate composition and major minerals were evaluated. RESULTS: The carotenoid composition of the two microalgae was similar, with 13 carotenoids being found in H. luteoviridis and 12 in D. tertiolecta. The major carotenoids were all-trans-lutein (1.18 mg g-1 in H. luteoviridis and 1.59 mg g-1 in D. tertiolecta), all-trans-violaxanthin (0.52 mg g-1 in H. luteoviridis and 0.45 mg g-1 in D. tertiolecta) and all-trans-ß-carotene (0.50 mg g-1 in H. luteoviridis and 0.62 mg g-1 in D. tertiolecta). All-trans-lutein was the predominant carotenoid in both microalgae, representing around 40% (mass fraction) of the total carotenoids. The lutein content found in these microalgae was significantly higher (2-40 times) than that in other important food sources of lutein (e.g. parsley, carrot, red pepper and broccoli). CONCLUSION: The microalgae H. luteoviridis and D. tertiolecta are excellent sources of lutein that could be commercially exploited by the food and pharmaceutical industries. Moreover, it was confirmed that both microalgae are good sources of protein, lipids and calcium. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

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Interest in the composition of carotenoid esters of fruits is growing because esterification may affect their bioavailability. Thus, the aim was to provide a detailed identification of carotenoid esters in citrus and mango. Orange cv. 'Valencia' and cv. 'Pera' presented 9 free carotenoids, 38 monoesters, and 60 diesters. Violaxanthin and luteoxanthin derivatives were the major ones, followed by antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-cryptoxanthin, and zeinoxanthin esters, many of them reported for the first time in orange pulp. The carotenoid ester composition of tangor cv. 'Murcott', reported for the first time, showed 8 free carotenoids, 34 monoesters, and 33 diesters, with ß-cryptoxanthin esters as major compounds, followed by violaxanthin and zeaxanthin esters. In citrus, carotenoids were acylated mainly with capric, lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids. In mango, 5 free carotenoids, 2 monoesters, and 19 diesters were identified, from which many violaxanthin and neoxanthin esters were reported for the first time.

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Modifications of the usual C40 linear and symmetrical carotenoid skeleton give rise to a wide array of structures of carotenes and xanthophylls in plant tissues. These include acyclic, monocyclic and dicyclic carotenoids, along with hydroxy and epoxy xanthophylls and apocarotenoids. Carotenols can be unesterified or esterified (monoester) in one or two (diester) hydroxyl groups with fatty acids. E-Z isomerization increases the array of possible plant carotenoids even further. Screening and especially quantitative analysis are being carried out worldwide. Visible absorption spectrometry and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy have been used for the initial estimation of the total carotenoid content or the principal carotenoid content when large numbers of samples needed to be analyzed within a short time, as would be the case in breeding programs. Although inherently difficult, quantitative analysis of the individual carotenoids is essential. Knowledge of the sources of errors and means to avoid them has led to a large body of reliable quantitative compositional data on carotenoids. Reverse-phase HPLC with a photodiode array detector has been the preferred analytical technique, but UHPLC is increasingly employed. HPLC-MS has been used mainly for identification and NMR has been useful in unequivocally identifying geometric isomers.

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A bactéria Rubrivivax gelatinosus tem sido utilizada experimentalmente no tratamento despoluente de efluentes industriais de abatedouros de aves e peixes, originando uma biomassa contendo pigmentos carotenoides, substâncias que possuem a capacidade de conferir cor aos alimentos e proteger contra reações oxidativas. Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar o efeito da biomassa de R. gelatinosus adicionada à alimentação de frangos de corte sobre o desempenho animal e a cor de carne e pele. Duzentos pintos machos Cobb 500 foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em 20 boxes para receber, do 36º ao 45º dia de criação, quatro tratamentos com diferentes quantidades de biomassa na ração (T1 [controle] - 0g/kg; T2 - 1g/kg; T3 - 2g/kg; T4 - 3g/kg), em cinco repetições. As pesagens de aves e rações para a análise de desempenho foram feitas no início da criação e ao fim de cada período de crescimento. Ao final do experimento (45 dias), 20 aves de cada tratamento foram abatidas para a determinação da cor objetiva (L - luminosidade, C - saturação, h - tom) em pele e carne de peito e coxa. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à ANOVA, teste t para a comparação múltipla de médias e análise de regressão com nível de significância de 5%. O ganho de peso e o consumo das aves não diferiram estatisticamente entre si (P>0,05), enquanto o índice de conversão alimentar foi superior para o T1. A luminosidade da carne e da pele aumentou significativamente nos tratamentos que receberam a biomassa. O tom da cor em carne e pele aumentou em direção ao amarelo até a concentração de 2g de biomassa por kg de ração, ao passo que, na concentração de 3g/kg, o aumento foi em direção à tonalidade vermelha. Somente na carne da coxa a saturação da cor sofreu influência da presença da biomassa na dieta. Concluiu-se que, até a proporção de 3g/kg, a biomassa não prejudicou o desempenho e foi eficiente em pigmentar a pele e a carne de frangos de corte.(AU)

The phototrophic bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus has been used experimentally for the depollution of industrial effluents from broiler and fish slaughterhouses, resulting in a biomass containing oxycarotenoids, substances that impart color and protection against to oxidative reactions. This work aimed to check the effect of R. gelatinosus biomass added into broiler chickens' feed on animal performance and meat/skin color. Two hundred Cobb 500 male chicks were randomly divided into 20 boxes to receive, from the 36th to the 45th day of rearing, 4 treatments with different amounts of biomass in the diets (T1 [control] - 0g/kg; T2 - 1g/kg; T3 - 2g/kg; T4 - 3g/kg), in 5 replicates. Chickens and rations were weighted at the beginning of the rearing time and at the end of each growth phase to assess animal performance. At the end of the experiment (45 days), 20 birds from each repetition were slaughtered for the evaluation of the objective color (L - lightness, C - chroma, h - hue) on skin and meat of breast and thigh. Statistical analyses comprised ANOVA, t test for means comparison and regression analysis, at 5% significance level. Weight gain and feed consumption did not differ statistically (P>0.05), while feed conversion was better for T1. Lightness of meat and skin increased significantly in the treatments with the biomass supplementation. Hue angle of meat and skin increased towards yellow until 2g biomass/kg and towards red at 3g/kg. Chroma was only influenced by the presence of the biomass in thigh meat. It was concluded that the addition of the biomass up to 3g/kg was not harmful to birds' performance and was efficient to cause changes in the color of broiler skin and meat.(AU)

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A bactéria Rubrivivax gelatinosus tem sido utilizada experimentalmente no tratamento despoluente de efluentes industriais de abatedouros de aves e peixes, originando uma biomassa contendo pigmentos carotenoides, substâncias que possuem a capacidade de conferir cor aos alimentos e proteger contra reações oxidativas. Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar o efeito da biomassa de R. gelatinosus adicionada à alimentação de frangos de corte sobre o desempenho animal e a cor de carne e pele. Duzentos pintos machos Cobb 500 foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em 20 boxes para receber, do 36º ao 45º dia de criação, quatro tratamentos com diferentes quantidades de biomassa na ração (T1 [controle] - 0g/kg; T2 - 1g/kg; T3 - 2g/kg; T4 - 3g/kg), em cinco repetições. As pesagens de aves e rações para a análise de desempenho foram feitas no início da criação e ao fim de cada período de crescimento. Ao final do experimento (45 dias), 20 aves de cada tratamento foram abatidas para a determinação da cor objetiva (L - luminosidade, C - saturação, h - tom) em pele e carne de peito e coxa. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à ANOVA, teste t para a comparação múltipla de médias e análise de regressão com nível de significância de 5%. O ganho de peso e o consumo das aves não diferiram estatisticamente entre si (P>0,05), enquanto o índice de conversão alimentar foi superior para o T1. A luminosidade da carne e da pele aumentou significativamente nos tratamentos que receberam a biomassa. O tom da cor em carne e pele aumentou em direção ao amarelo até a concentração de 2g de biomassa por kg de ração, ao passo que, na concentração de 3g/kg, o aumento foi em direção à tonalidade vermelha. Somente na carne da coxa a saturação da cor sofreu influência da presença da biomassa na dieta. Concluiu-se que, até a proporção de 3g/kg, a biomassa não prejudicou o desempenho e foi eficiente em pigmentar a pele e a carne de frangos de corte...

The phototrophic bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus has been used experimentally for the depollution of industrial effluents from broiler and fish slaughterhouses, resulting in a biomass containing oxycarotenoids, substances that impart color and protection against to oxidative reactions. This work aimed to check the effect of R. gelatinosus biomass added into broiler chickens' feed on animal performance and meat/skin color. Two hundred Cobb 500 male chicks were randomly divided into 20 boxes to receive, from the 36th to the 45th day of rearing, 4 treatments with different amounts of biomass in the diets (T1 [control] - 0g/kg; T2 - 1g/kg; T3 - 2g/kg; T4 - 3g/kg), in 5 replicates. Chickens and rations were weighted at the beginning of the rearing time and at the end of each growth phase to assess animal performance. At the end of the experiment (45 days), 20 birds from each repetition were slaughtered for the evaluation of the objective color (L - lightness, C - chroma, h - hue) on skin and meat of breast and thigh. Statistical analyses comprised ANOVA, t test for means comparison and regression analysis, at 5% significance level. Weight gain and feed consumption did not differ statistically (P>0.05), while feed conversion was better for T1. Lightness of meat and skin increased significantly in the treatments with the biomass supplementation. Hue angle of meat and skin increased towards yellow until 2g biomass/kg and towards red at 3g/kg. Chroma was only influenced by the presence of the biomass in thigh meat. It was concluded that the addition of the biomass up to 3g/kg was not harmful to birds' performance and was efficient to cause changes in the color of broiler skin and meat...

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The carotenoids are photosensitive pigments during photosynthesis. The objective of this work was to study the effect on development and accumulation of carotenoids in ligules of Tagetes erecta exposed under two different lighting ambient (with mesh and without mesh of 50 percent). The plant development was evaluated measuring the height of the plant, number of floral buds, the ligules diameter. In adition, the quantification and identification of carotenoids from ligules was done by HPLC. The results showed significant differences (p<0.05) in the height of the plant, number of floral buds and ligules diameter of T. erecta. The group grown without mesh received greater UV radiation and different temperature, that under a mesh. The first conditions lead to a reduction of the ligules diameter and total content of xanthophylls (lutein and zeaxanthin). The plastids ultrastructure in the cells of T. erecta developed with mesh showed the greatest amount of thylakoid membranes and more conspicuous starch granules.

Los carotenoides son pigmentos fotosensibles frente a un exceso de intensidad luminosa durante el proceso de fotosíntesis. El objetivo de este trabajo fue el estudio del efecto en el desarrollo de la planta y la acumulación de carotenoides por la exposición a dos diferentes intensidades lumínicas (con y sin malla de sombra al 50 por ciento). Se evaluó el desarrollo de T. erecta en cuanto a la altura de la planta, número de botones florales y el diámetro de las lígulas. Adicionalmente, en las lígulas se cuantificaron e identificaron los carotenoides por HPLC. Los resultados mostraron diferencias significativas (p<0.05) en cuanto al desarrollo de las plantas expuestas a mayor radiación UV y temperatura, presentaron reducción del diámetro de las lígulas y disminución en el contenido de Xantófilas totales ( luteína y zeaxantina) con respecto a las cultivadas con malla,. La ultraestructura de los plastidios mostró mayor cantidad de membranas tilacoidales y gránulos de almidón más conspicuos en las células de las plantas de T erecta desarrolladas con malla.

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RESUMEN

We present here the effect of heavy metals and of different light intensities on the biosynthesis of fatty acids and pigments in the macroalga Gracilaria tenuistipitata (var. liui Zhang & Xia). In order to verify the fatty acid content, gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) was employed. Pigments (major carotenoids and chlorophyl-a) were monitored by liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Cultures of G. tenuistipitata were exposed to cadmium (Cd2+, 200 ppb) and copper (Cu2+, 200 ppb), as well as to different light conditions (low light: 100 µmol.photons.m-2.s-1, or high light: 1000 µmol.photons.m-2.s-1). Cd2+ and Cu2+ increased the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid content [14:0, 16:0, 18:0, 18:1 (n-7) and 18:1 (n-9)] and all major pigments (violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, chlorophyll-a and β-carotene). Both heavy metals decreased the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) [18:2 (n-6), 18:3 (n-6), 18:5 (n-4), 20:4 (n-6), 20:5 (n-3), 22:6 (n-3)]. G. tenuistipitata cultures were exposed to high light intensity for five days and no statistically significant differences were observed in the content of fatty acids. On the other hand, the levels of pigments rose markedly for chlorophyll-a and all of the carotenoids studied.