Lutein
| Compound Structure: |
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| Synonyms: | (1R)-4-[(1E,3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E,17E)-18-[(1R,4R)-4-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-yl]-3,7,12,16-tetramethyloctadeca-1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17-nonaenyl]-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-3-en-1-ol; Lutein; Bo-Xan; Vegetable lutein; Vegetable luteol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compound ID: | NMPC-1219 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PubChem ID: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Molecular Formula: | C40H56O2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canonical SMILES: | CC1=C(C(CC(C1)O)(C)C)C=CC(=CC=CC(=CC=CC=C(C)C=CC=C(C)C=CC2C(=CC(CC2(C)C)O)C)C)C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| InChIKey: | KBPHJBAIARWVSC-RGZFRNHPSA-N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About the compound: | Lutein, a naturally occurring carotenoid and xanthophyll, is synthesized only by plants and plays a significant role in both the plant and animal kingdoms. Here's a detailed overview: 1. Chemical Nature and Sources: - Lutein is a type of xanthophyll, a class of carotenoids known for their yellow-red color. - It's found in high quantities in green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and yellow carrots. In plants, lutein helps modulate light energy and acts as a non-photochemical quenching agent during photosynthesis. 2. Animal and Human Absorption: - Animals, including humans, obtain lutein by ingesting plants. - In humans, lutein is absorbed specifically into the macula lutea of the retina, though its exact functional role in the body remains unclear. - It's also present in egg yolks and animal fats. 3. Chemical Properties: - Lutein is isomeric with zeaxanthin and can be interconverted in the body. - It's a lipophilic molecule, generally insoluble in water, and its light-absorbing properties are due to the long chromophore of conjugated double bonds. 4. Role as a Pigment: - Due to its color, lutein is used as a colorant in food and supplement manufacturing. - It absorbs blue light, appearing yellow at low concentrations and orange-red at high concentrations. 5. Biological Role in Animals: - Many songbirds incorporate dietary lutein into their feathers to achieve coloration. - However, this characteristic varies among bird species. 6. Role in Human Eyes and Health Benefits: - While lutein is concentrated in the macula of the human retina, its precise role in vision is not fully understood. - The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS2) in 2013 showed that a dietary supplement containing lutein could reduce the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 25% in certain groups. - However, lutein and zeaxanthin did not demonstrate an overall effect on preventing AMD. - Three subsequent meta-analyses concluded that lutein and zeaxanthin lower the risk of progression from early stage to late stage AMD. 7. Cataract Research: - Preliminary epidemiological evidence suggests that increasing lutein and zeaxanthin intake might lower the risk of cataract development. - Two meta-analyses found a correlation between high diet content or high serum concentrations of these carotenoids and a decreased risk of cataract. - The AREDS2 trial also investigated the effect of lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation on cataracts, but results were inconclusive. |
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| Properties: |
Chemical and Physical Properties
Source: PubChem |
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| Source Species: |
Landolphia owariensis |