In vivo anti-obesity efficacy of fucoxanthin-loaded emulsions stabilized with phospholipid

Fucoxanthin, a Functional Food Ingredient: Challenges in Bioavailability

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Fucoxanthin is an orange-red xanthophyll carotenoid found in brown seaweeds and known for its many bioactive properties. In recent years, the bioactive properties of fucoxanthin have been widely explored, making it a compound of immense interest for various health applications like anti-cancer, anti-tumour, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties. However, the poor bioavailability and instability of fucoxanthin in the gastrointestinal tract have major limitations. Encapsulation is a promising approach to overcome these challenges by enclosing fucoxanthin in a protective layer, such as liposomes or nano-particles. Encapsulation can improve the stability of fucoxanthin by protecting it from exposure to heat, pH, illumination, gastric acids and enzymes that can accelerate its degradation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Studies have shown that lipid-based encapsulation systems such as liposomes or nano-structured lipid carriers may solubilise fucoxanthin and enhance its bioavailability (from 25 to 61.2%). In addition, encapsulation can also improve the solubility of hydrophobic fucoxanthin, which is important for its absorption and bioavailability. This review highlights the challenges involved in the absorption of fucoxanthin in the living system, role of micro- and nano-encapsulation of fucoxanthin and their potential to enhance intestinal absorption.

Delivery systems for fucoxanthin: Research progress, applications and future prospects

Fucoxanthin is a special kind of keto-carotenoid found only in algae. The unique structure of fucoxanthin endows it with extraordinary biological activities, which are of great significance to improve food quality and enhance human health. However, due to its highly unsaturated structure, fucoxanthin also suffers from some limitations, such as instability, poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Therefore, although its content is relatively abundant, its applications in the food industry are extremely scarce. In recent years, there have been many reports on the preparation and characterization of delivery systems for fucoxanthin. These well-designed delivery systems can efficaciously alleviate the instability of fucoxanthin under adverse conditions, thereby improving its oral bioavailability. Thus, this review emphatically summarizes the delivery systems that are widely used to encapsulate, protect and release fucoxanthin. Besides, the influence of delivery systems on the absorption of fucoxanthin by intestinal epithelial cells is highlighted. The applications and future development trends of delivery systems for fucoxanthin are also discussed. The extraction of fucoxanthin, development of novel delivery systems, sensory evaluation and toxicity studies, and industrial production may be promising research directions in the future. Overall, this review provides guidance for the development of fucoxanthin-loaded delivery systems.

Fucoxanthin-Containing Cream Prevents Epidermal Hyperplasia and UVB-Induced Skin Erythema in Mice

Microalgae represent a source of bio-active compounds such as carotenoids with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We aimed to investigate the effects of fucoxanthin (FX) in both in vitro and in vivo skin models. Firstly, its anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages and TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes, and its antioxidant activity in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Next, in vitro and ex vivo permeation studies were developed to determine the most suitable formulation for in vivo FX topical application. Then, we evaluated the effects of a FX-containing cream on TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia in mice, as well as on UVB-induced acute erythema in hairless mice. Our results confirmed the in vitro reduction of TNF-α, IL-6, ROS and LDH production. Since the permeation results showed that cream was the most favourable vehicle, FX-cream was elaborated. This formulation effectively ameliorated TPA-induced hyperplasia, by reducing skin edema, epidermal thickness, MPO activity and COX-2 expression. Moreover, FX-cream reduced UVB-induced erythema through down-regulation of COX-2 and iNOS as well as up-regulation of HO-1 protein via Nrf-2 pathway. In conclusion, FX, administered in a topical formulation, could be a novel natural adjuvant for preventing exacerbations associated with skin inflammatory pathologies as well as protecting skin against UV radiation.

Marine natural pigments as potential sources for therapeutic applications

In recent years, marine natural pigments have emerged as a powerful alternative in the various fields of food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries because of their excellent biocompatibility, bioavailability, safety, and stability. Marine organisms are recognized as a rich source of natural pigments such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phycobiliproteins. Numerous studies have shown that marine natural pigments have considerable medicinal potential and promising applications in human health. In this review, we summarize the marine natural pigments as potential sources for therapeutic applications, including: antioxidant, anticancer, antiangiogenic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory activities, drug delivery, photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and wound healing. Marine natural pigments will offer a better platform for future theranostic applications.