Merck, C9750-5G, β-Carotene

General description
Carotenoids are an important class of naturally occurring pigments found in fruits and vegetables. Among the carotenoids, β-carotene has the greatest provitamin A potential and functions to reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and macular degeneration. Low water solubility and poor chemical stability attributes to low absorption of β-carotene from food. β-carotene along with digestible lipids enriches its bio accessibility. Emulsions or nano emulsions encapsulates effectively delivers lipophilic β-carotene and increases its bioavailability. β-carotene has anti-oxidant potential and reduces noise induced hearing loss and progression of macular degeneration.
Application
β-carotene has been used:
to generate nano emulsions to evaluate their bioavailability potential
as a standard, for β-carotene evaluation in blood and skin samples using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),
as a dietary supplement of vitamin-A in young rats by HPLC
as a dietary supplement in mice to reduce hearing loss and hair cell damage

Biochem/physiol Actions
The most important of the provitamins A, β-carotene can be classified as an antioxidant due to its inhibition of radical initiated peroxidation in vitro. However, in vivo it appears to act either as an antioxidant or a prooxidant depending on cellular environment. It reduces the incidence of many cancers, but enhances lung cancer incidence in smokers.
The most important of the provitamins A.
Packaging
Packaged in serum vials.
Disclaimer
Purchase minimum quantity required. Discard one month after opening.