フコキサンチン

化学的特性Fucoxanthin is an orange-colored pigment, along with chlorophylls a and c and β-carotene, present in Chromophyta (Heterokontophyta or Ochrophyta), including brown seaweeds (Phaeophyceae) and diatoms (Bacillariophyta). It is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol; it is typically lipid-soluble powder or oil.

解説フコキサンチンは，褐藻素ともいう。褐藻類に含まれている色素で，カロテノイドの一種。化学式 C40H60O6 。カロチノイドの一種で、分子中に酸素を含むので、キサントフィルに属する。褐藻の色の本体で、光合成の際に補助色素として光のエネルギーを捕捉(ほそく)する役割を果たしている。吸収したエネルギーの80％をクロロフィルに受け渡すといわれる。エーテル-石油エーテル混合液からは赤褐色針状晶として得られる。メチルアルコールから得られた結晶 (3分子の結晶メチルアルコールを含むもの) は融点 166～168℃。石油ベンジンには不溶。エーテル溶液を 25%の塩酸と混合すれば塩酸層は深青色となる。光合成の際に補助色素として働く。ケイ藻類にも含まれている。古くフィコフェインといわれた黄褐色の色素物質も褐藻素といわれたが，これは藻体が死んだ場合にフェノール性物質が酸化を受けて2次的に生じたものらしい。ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典 ブリタニカ

説明Fucoxanthin is another important xanthophyll. It is widely found in heterokontophyta, such as brown algae and oceanic microalgae,and is believed be the second-most abundant carotenoid on Earth after β-carotene. Recently, studies on the functionality of fucoxanthin have been increasingly conducted,and fucoxanthin has been shown to possess various beneficial physiological activities.It has various pharmaceutical effects such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-obesity effects, protecting nerve cell, increasing the content of ARA(arachidonic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in mice; It is widely used as medicine, skin care and beauty industry, and in the Food supplements market.

天然物の起源褐藻Fucus vesiculosus

天然物の起源Fucoxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid abundant in macroalgae, such as brown seaweeds and microalgae. Several edible brown algae, including Sargassam fusiforme, Laminaria japonica, Undaria pinnatifida, and Padina tetrastromatica, are consumed in Southeast Asia and Europe. The brown algae are good sources of fucoxanthin. However, diatoms, such as Phaeodactylum tricornutum, are preferred sources of fucoxanthin in the food industry because of their higher fucoxanthin content and extraction efficiency with shorter growth cycles than those of macroalgae[1].

使用Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid that occurs naturally in certain algae. It significantly reduces abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) in mice and rats when included in their diet. Fucoxanthin increases the amount of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), a fatty acid-stimulated protein involved in respiration and thermogenesis in WAT of mice and rats. In KK-Ay mice, which are used to model obese type 2 diabetics with hyperinsulinemia, fucoxanthin reduces WAT gain and also decreases blood glucose and plasma insulin levels.

一般的な説明Fucoxanthin is isolated from brown algae. It has anti-angiogenic, hepatoprotective,cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective properties. Fucoxanthin stimulates G1 cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cell lines.