Cryptoxanthin

Cryptoxanthin is a natural carotenoid pigment. It has been isolated from a variety of sources including the petals and flowers of plants in the genus Physalis, orange rind, papaya, egg yolk, butter, and bovine blood serum.^[1]

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Chemistry

Structurally, cryptoxanthin is closely related to beta-carotene, with only the addition of a hydroxyl group. It is a member of the class of carotenoids known as xanthophylls.

In a pure form, cryptoxanthin is a red crystalline solid with a metallic luster. It is freely soluble in chloroform, benzene, pyridine and carbon disulfide.^[1]

Biology and medicine

In the human body, cryptoxanthin is converted to vitamin A (retinol) and is therefore considered a provitamin A. As with other carotenoids, cryptoxanthin is an antioxidant and may help prevent free radical damage to cells and DNA.

Recent findings of an inverse association between β-cryptoxanthin and lung cancer risk in several observational epidemiological studies suggest that β-cryptoxanthin could potentially act as a chemopreventive agent against lung cancer.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Merck Index, 11th Edition, 2612.
2. ^ β-Cryptoxanthin suppresses the growth of immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells and non-small-cell lung cancer cells and up-regulates retinoic acid receptor b expression. Lian, Fuzhi; Hu, Kang-Quan; Russell, Robert M.; Wang, Xiang-Dong. International Journal of Cancer (2006), 119(9), 2084-2089.