Abstract
Canthaxanthin is a carotenoid that lacks pro-vitamin A activity but is known to have antioxidant activity. The products of its oxidation in oxygen were found to be mainly substituted apo-carotenals and apo-carotenones. The product profile resembles that obtained in the oxidation of β-carotene, except that with canthaxanthin these products are the 4-oxo-β-apo-carotenals and 4-oxo-β-apo-carotenones. Epoxides and diepoxides were clearly identified from β-carotene oxidation but in contrast, with canthaxanthin, apart from 5,6-epoxy-canthaxanthin, which was detected at the early stage of oxidation and minor quantities of 5,6-epoxy-β-ionone and 5,6-epoxy-4-oxo-β-apo-11-carotenal, no other epoxides were detected. The identities of these products lead us to suggest that the mechanism of canthaxanthin oxidation bears significant similarity to that of β-carotene.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 836-840 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Food Chemistry |
Volume | 197 |
Issue number | Part A |
Early online date | 12 Nov 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Apr 2016 |
Keywords
- Canthaxanthin
- β-Carotene
- Carotenoids
- Oxidation
- Antioxidant
- Apo-Carotenoids