Bioactivity of falcarinol and the influenceof processing and storage on its content in carrots (Daucus carota L)

Abstract

The concentration-dependent activity of the polyacetylene falcarinol ((9Z)-heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3-ol), isolated from carrots, was investigated in a bioassay with primary mammary epithelial cells in collagen gels and compared with that of β-carotene, the orange pigment in carrots. Falcarinol showed biphasic activity, having stimulatory effects between 0.01 and 0.05 µg ml −1 and inhibitory effects between 1 and 10 µg ml −1 , whereas β-carotene showed no effect in the concentration range 0.001-100 µg ml −1 . The results are discussed in relation to the health-promoting effects of carrots and related vegetables. Falcarinol was quantified in the carrot cultivars Bolero, Rodelika and Fancy by analytical reverse phase HPLC, subjected to various processing and storage conditions in order to study how long-term storage, blanching, freezing and boiling influence the content of falcarinol. Long-term storage of raw carrot cubes (1 cm 3 ) reduced the falcarinol content by almost 35%. A similar reduction was found in steam-blanched carrot cubes (1 cm 3 ). Long-term storage at −24 • C of steam blanched carrot cubes did not reduce the falcarinol content further. A reduction of almost 70% in the falcarinol content was found in carrot pieces boiled in water for 12 min compared with raw carrots.

Plant Bioactive Metabolites and Drugs Produced by Endophytic Fungi of Spermatophyta

“…and other Araliaceae. It is considered a natural pesticide protecting roots from fungal diseases, and displayed some extent of activity against certain types of cancer [369]. Production of this compound has been reported by a strain of Paecilomyces sp.…”

On farm and fresh produce management

“…Bolero, Rodelika and Fancy) were stored at 1 o C and 98% RH falcarinol content was initially in the range 22.3 -24.8 mg/kg. Levels were largely unchanged during the first month but subsequently declined by nearly 35% after 120 days storage, which the authors attribute to a change in the balance between biosynthesis and degradation [62]. However in a study in which polyacetylene content in carrot roots of six Nantes cultivars (cvs.…”

“…Variation in carotenoid profile has been reported with some carrot cultivars primarily accumulating lutein whilst others primarily accumulated a and 1 carotene [157]. Levels of individual polyacetylenes differ between different carrot varieties [4,30,34,62,79,105,106], and between different members of the Apiaceae family [38,192]. In an analysis of 5 members of the Apiaceae, falcarinol was found in all investigated taxa except parsley.…”

“…Few studies have been carried out to evaluate the effect of storage on carrot polyacetylenes [62,79,81].…”

Cell-based models to test the effects of milk-derived bioactives

“…Several studies have shown that this this model is a very sensitive screening model for milk-derived bioactives (Norup et al, 1997;Weber et al, 1997 and2000;Purup et al, 1999Purup et al, , 2000Purup et al, and 2002Ellis et al, 2000;Lametsch et al, 2000;Sejrsen et al, 2000;Hansen et al, 2003;Thorn et al, 2006;Fusi et al, 2008). Groups of mammary epithelial cells are isolated from parenchymal tissue by enzymatic treatment and precipitation and these isolated organoids are then cultured in collagen gels, allowing the cells to proliferate in three dimensions.…”