Special Issue "Marine Carotenoids and Oxidative Stress"

Guest Editor
Dr. Graziano Riccioni
Studio Medico Polispecialistico, Via Magenta 106, San Severo, 71016 Foggia, Italy
Website: http://www.docvadis.it/graziano.riccioni/index.html
E-Mail: griccioni@hotmail.com
Phone: +39 3664694444
Fax: +39 882227022
Interests: atherosclerosis; statins; ivabradine; ischemic cardiac disease; antioxidants; endothelial dyfunction and metabolities; carotenoids

Dear Colleagues,

Oxidative stress (OS) induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the aetiology of many diseases. Dietary phytochemical products such bioactive food components (alpha- and beta-carotene) and marine carotenoids (asthaxantin, lutein, β-carotene, fucoxanthin) have shown an antioxidant effect in reducing both oxidative markers stress. Scientifical evidences support the beneficial roles of phytochemicals in the prevention of some chronic diseases. Many carotenoids with great antioxidant properties have shown both in epidemiological studies and supplementation human trials a reduction of disease risk. However, controlled clinical trials and dietary intervention studies using well-defined subjects population haven't been provided a clear evidence of these substances in the prevention of diseases. In this special issue, the most important aspects will regard the synthesis, biological activities, and clinical applications of these carotenoids.

Dr. Graziano Riccioni
Guest Editor

Submission

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• oxidative stress
• reactive oxygen species
• oxidation
• marine carotenoids
• lycopene
• lutein
• astaxanthin
• zeaxanthin
• β-carotene
• fucoxanthin

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Carothenoids and Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Pietro Scicchitano ¹, Manuela Locorotondo ¹, Cosimo Mandurino ¹, Santa Carbonara ¹, Gabriella Ricci ¹, Dachille Annamaria ¹, Paola Caputo ¹, Roberta Riccardi ¹, Graziano Riccioni ² and Marco Matteo Ciccone ¹
Affiliations: ¹ Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Bari, Italy; E-Mail: ciccone@cardio.uniba.it
² Cardiology Unit, San Camillo De Lellis Hospital, Manfredonia (FG), Italy
Abstract: Carothenoids are fat-soluble pigments which fruits and vegetables (typically represented in Mediterranian diet foods) are very rich of. Structurally they present several double binds, responsable of carothenoids well known antyoxidant capability. LDL oxydation process is primum movens of atherosclerotic disease, the first pathogenetical step of cerebro- and cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction and stroke, which are the first cause of death in industrialized countries. ROS seem also to be the target of Carothenoids main action, by removing singlet oxygen (¹O₂ ) and free radicals. For this reason Carotenoids could reduce atherosclerotic indivuals’ burden as evaluated by Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery wall in many literature data. Aim of this review is to evaluate actual knowledge about the importance of carothenoids molecules in slowing down the starting and the progression of atherosclerotic plaque,and to consider their implementation in everyone's diet as a tool to obtain a sharp reduction of LDL oxydation and their possible affection on endothelial function.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Free Radical Scavenging Effect of Marine-Derived Carotenoids
Authors: Se-Kwon Kim ^1,2,* and Isuru Wijesekara ²
Affiliations: ¹ Marine Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Pukyong National University, Busan 608-737, Korea; E-Mail: sknkim@pknu.ac.kr
² Marine Bioprocess Research Center, Pukyong National University, Busan 608-737, Korea; E-Mail: isurumatara@yahoo.com
Abstract: Free radical scavengers may have a positive effect on human health as they can protect human body against damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which attack macromolecules such as membrane lipids, proteins and DNA, lead to many health disorders. Marine-derived carotenoids are thought to be responsible for the beneficial properties in preventing human diseases including cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other chronic diseases via reducing cellular oxidative stress. Among marine-derived carotenoids, fucoxanthin and astaxanthin are known to be major ingredients of marine carotenoids and have also been recognized to possess excellent antioxidative potential. This contribution focuses on sources of marine-derived carotenoids, their chemistry, and potential application in human health as free radical scavengers.