中文名称 | 英文名称 | CAS号 | 化学式 | 分子量 |
---|---|---|---|---|
—— | methyl geronate | 926-27-2 | C10H18O3 | 186.251 |
2,2-二甲基戊二酸 | 2,2-dimethylglutaric acid | 681-57-2 | C7H12O4 | 160.17 |
—— | 2,2-dimethyl-6-oxoheptanal | 151288-69-6 | C9H16O2 | 156.225 |
Carotenoids are reported to have immunological effects independent of vitamin A activity. Although antioxidant activity has been suggested as a basis of action, the ability of carotenoids to autoxidize to numerous non-vitamin A products with immunological activity is an alternative yet to be fully explored. We have undertaken a systematic study of β-carotene autoxidation and tested the product mixture for immunological activity. Autoxidation proceeds predominantly by oxygen copolymerization, leading to a defined, reproducible product corresponding to net uptake of almost 8 molar equivalents of oxygen. The product, termed OxC-beta, empirical formula C40H60O15versus C40H56for β-carotene, contains more than 30% oxygen (w/w) and 85% β-carotene oxygen copolymers (w/w) as well as minor amounts of many C8−C18 norisoprenoid compounds. No vitamin A or higher molecular weight norisoprenoids are present. The predominance of polymeric products has not been reported previously. The polymer appears to be a less polymerized form of sporopollenin, a biopolymer found in exines of spores and pollen. Autoxidations of lycopene and canthaxanthin show a similar predominance of polymeric products. OxC-beta exhibits immunological activity in a PCR gene expression array, indicating that carotenoid oxidation produces non-vitamin A products with immunomodulatory potential.