In Vitro Bioavailability, Cellular Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxicity of β-Carotene-Loaded Emulsions Stabilized by Catechin-Egg White Protein Conjugates

Biopolymer-polyphenol conjugates: Novel multifunctional materials for active packaging

The development of natural active packaging materials and coatings presents a promising alternative to petroleum-based packaging solutions. These materials are engineered by incorporating functional ingredients with preservative capabilities. Concurrently, research has highlighted the diverse physicochemical, functional, and health-promoting properties of protein-polyphenol, polysaccharide-polyphenol, and protein-polysaccharide-polyphenol conjugates within various food formulations. However, a critical gap exists regarding the exploration of these biopolymers as active packaging materials. In contrast to conventional approaches for developing active packaging materials, this review presents a novel perspective by focusing on biopolymer-polyphenol conjugates. In this work, we delve into the realm of active packaging materials and coatings constructed from these conjugates, highlighting their potential as multifunctional active components in food packaging and preservation. This review comprehensively investigates the physicochemical properties, functionalities, and health-promoting activities associated with biopolymer-polyphenol conjugates. Their emulsification, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities, coupled with enhancements in mechanical strength and permeability properties, contribute to their multifunctional nature. Furthermore, we explore the potential advantages and limitations of utilizing these conjugates in active packaging applications. Finally, the review concludes by proposing crucial research avenues for further exploration of biopolymer-polyphenol conjugates within the domain of active food packaging.

Advances in metabolism pathways of theaflavins: digestion, absorption, distribution and degradation

Theaflavins, a major kind of component in black tea, have been reported to show a variety of biological activities and health effects. However, the unstable chemical properties, low bioavailability and unclear metabolism pathways of theaflavins have left much to be desired in terms of its specific efficacy and applications. This paper provides a comprehensive knowledge on the digestion, absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion of theaflavins. We find that pH-dependent stability, efflux transport proteins are closely related to the low absorption rate and low bioavailability of theaflavins. When pass through the gastrointestinal tract, TFDG, TF2A and TF2B are gradually degraded to TF1, and release gallic acid. Then, the theaflavins skeleton are degraded into small molecular phenolic substances under the action of enzymes and microorganisms. In addition, theaflavins are widely distributed in the human body including brain, lung, heart, kidney, liver, blood tissue in a low content and can be excreted through feces. However, the influence of digestive enzymes barrier and gut microbial barrier on theaflavins are still unclear. Importantly, most findings are reported by in vitro methods and animal experiments, the metabolites and metabolic pathways of theaflavins in human body are not fully understood and need to be further investigated. We hope to lay a theoretical basis for exploring methods to improve the bioavailability of theaflavins and expanding the application of theaflavins in health foods as well as pharmaceuticals.

Improved bioavailability and antioxidation of β-carotene-loaded biopolymeric nanoparticles stabilized by glycosylated oat protein isolate

The limited bioavailability of β-carotene hinders its potential application in functional foods, despite its excellent antioxidant properties. Protein-based nanoparticles have been widely used for the delivery of β-carotene to overcome this limitation. However, these nanoparticles are susceptible to environmental stress. In this study, we utilized glycosylated oat protein isolate to prepare nanoparticles loaded with β-carotene through the emulsification-evaporation method, aiming to address this challenge. The results showed that β-carotene was embedded into the spherical nanoparticles, exhibiting relatively high encapsulation efficiency (86.21 %) and loading capacity (5.43 %). The stability of the nanoparticles loaded with β-carotene was enhanced in acidic environments and under high ionic strength. The nanoparticles offered protection to β-carotene against gastric digestion and facilitated its controlled release (95.76 % within 6 h) in the small intestine, thereby leading to an improved in vitro bioavailability (65.06 %) of β-carotene. This improvement conferred the benefits on β-carotene nanoparticles to alleviate tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress through the upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 expression, as well as the promotion of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2. Our study suggests the potential for the industry application of nanoparticles based on glycosylated proteins to effectively deliver hydrophobic nutrients and enhance their application.

Mechanisms of theaflavins against gout and strategies for improving the bioavailability

BACKGROUND

Gout is a crystal related arthropathy caused by monosodium urate deposition. At present, the identification of appropriate treatments and new drugs to reduce serum uric acid levels and gout risk is a major research area.

PURPOSE

Theaflavins are naturally occurring compounds characterized by a benzodiazepine skeleton. The significant benefits of theaflavins have been well documented. A large number of studies have been carried out and excellent anti-gout results have been achieved in recent years.

STUDY DESIGN

A comprehensive analysis of the mechanism of the anti-gout effect of theaflavins is presented through a literature review and network pharmacology prediction, and strategies for increasing the bioavailability of theaflavins are summarized.

METHODS

In this review, the active components and pharmacological mechanisms of theaflavins in the treatment of gout were summarized, and the relationship between theaflavins and gout, the relevant components, and the potential mechanisms of anti-gout action were clarified by reviewing the literature on the anti-gout effects of theaflavins and network pharmacology.

RESULTS

Theaflavins exert anti-gout effects by down regulating the gene and protein expression of glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9) and uric acid transporter 1 (URAT1), while upregulating the mRNA expression levels of organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), organic cation transporter N1 (OCTN1), organic cation transporters 1/2 (Oct1/2), and organic anion transporter 2 (OAT2). Network pharmacology prediction indicate that theaflavins can regulate the AGE-RAGE and cancer signaling pathways through ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), recombinant mitogen activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), telomerase reverse tranase (TERT), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2), and matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) targets for anti-gout effects.

CONCLUSION

This review presents the mechanisms of anti-gout action of theaflavins and strategies for improving the bioavailability of theaflavins, as well as providing research strategies for anti-gout treatment measures and the development of novel anti-gout drugs.

Recent progresses in the delivery of β-carotene: From nano/microencapsulation to bioaccessibility

Beta-carotene (BC) as an efficient pro-vitamin is effective in improving vision, immune system and cognitive function as well as preventing coronary diseases and cancer. However, besides its poor chemical stability, the high lipophilic nature of BC reduces its dispersibility and consequently bioavailability which limits its application into food, pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals. Different carriers with vesicular or particulate structures have been studied and utilized for promoting BC solubility, dispersibility, and protection against diverse operational or environmental stresses and also controlling BC release and subsequent bioaccessibility. The current study, therefore reviews different micro/nanocarriers reported on BC encapsulation with special focusing on its bioavailability. Liposomal structures have been successfully used for enhancing BC stability and bioavailability. Besides, emulsion-based carriers including Pickering emulsions, nanoemulsions and microemulsions have been widely evaluated for BC encapsulation and protection. In addition, lipid-based nanoparticles and nanostructural carriers have also been applied successfully for this context. Moreover, gel structures including emulgels, hydrogels and oleogels are studied in some researches. Most of these delivery systems led to higher hydro-solubility and dispersibility of BC which consequently increased its bioavailability; thereupon could promote its application into food, cosmetic and nutraceutical products. However, for remarkable incorporation of BC and other bioactive compounds into edible products, the safety and toxicological aspects of these delivery system especially those designed in nano scale should be addressed in the further researches.

A review of recent progress in improving the bioavailability of nutraceutical-loaded emulsions after oral intake

Increasing awareness of the health benefits of specific constituents in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and other whole foods has sparked a broader interest in the potential health benefits of nutraceuticals. Many nutraceuticals are hydrophobic substances, which means they must be encapsulated in colloidal delivery systems. Oil-in-water emulsions are one of the most widely used delivery systems for improving the bioavailability and bioactivity of these nutraceuticals. The composition and structure of emulsions can be designed to improve the water dispersibility, physicochemical stability, and bioavailability of the encapsulated nutraceuticals. The nature of the emulsion used influences the interfacial area and properties of the nutraceutical-loaded oil droplets in the gastrointestinal tract, which influences their digestion, as well as the bioaccessibility, metabolism, and absorption of the nutraceuticals. In this article, we review recent in vitro and in vivo studies on the utilization of emulsions to improve the bioavailability of nutraceuticals. The findings from this review should facilitate the design of more efficacious nutraceutical-loaded emulsions with increased bioactivity.

Egg white protein-based delivery system for bioactive substances: a review

Some bioactive substances in food have problems such as poor solubility, unstable chemical properties and low bioavailability, which limits their application in functional food. Recently, many egg white protein-based delivery carriers have been developed to improve the chemical stability, biological activity and bioavailability of bioactive substances. This article reviewed the structure and properties of several major egg white proteins commonly used to construct bioactive substance delivery systems. Several common carrier types based on egg white proteins, including hydrogels, emulsions, micro/nanoparticles, aerogels and electrospinning were then introduced. The biological functions of common bioactive substances, the limitations, and the role of egg white protein-based delivery systems were also discussed. At present, whole egg white protein, ovalbumin and lysozyme are most widely used in delivery systems, while ovotransferrin, ovomucoid and ovomucin are less developed and applied. Egg white protein-based nanoparticles are currently the most commonly used delivery carriers. Egg white protein-based hydrogels, emulsions, and microparticles are also widely used. Future research on the application of various egg white proteins in developed new delivery systems will provide more choices for the delivery of various bioactive substances.

Functionalization of sweet potato leaf polyphenols by nanostructured composite β-lactoglobulin particles from molecular level complexations: A review

Sweet potato leaf polyphenols (SPLPs) have shown potential health benefits in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Nowadays, consumption of SPLPs from animal feeds to foodstuff is becoming a trend worldwide. However, the application of SPLPs is limited by their low bioavailability and stability. β-lactoglobulin (βlg), a highly regarded whey protein, can interact with SPLPs at the molecular level to form reversible or irreversible nanocomplexes (NCs). Consequently, the functional properties and final quality of SPLPs are directly modified. In this review, the composition and structure of SPLPs and βlg, as well as methods of molecular complexation and mechanisms of formation of SPLPsβlgNCs, are revisited. The modified functionalities of SPLPsβlgNCs, especially protein conformational structures, antioxidant activity, solubility, thermal stability, emulsifying, and gelling properties including allergenic potential, digestibility, and practical applications are discussed for SPLPs future development.

Physicochemical properties and Strength analysis of vitreous encapsulated solids for the safe delivery of β-Carotene

β-Carotene (β-Car) is insoluble compounds in water and liable to degradation, which has health benefits for human beings. Although layer-by-layer (LBL) emulsions provide a better protection for β-Car towards environmental stresses, the handling and transportation of LBL emulsions still faces restrictions. In this paper, therefore, the LBL emulsions including β-Car were carefully prepared and encapsulated to obtain vitreous encapsulated solids (VES) using trehalose and maltodextrins (MD) as wall materials. Morphological results indicated that the LBL emulsions were formed a spheric shape, in where the polyelectrolyte shell was 30 nm. The MD exhibited the characteristics of not easy to absorb moisture, suitable carrier, and good stabilizer, which could improve the stability of VES systems at studied environmental stresses. Despite compositional effects from MD and environmental stresses, LBL emulsions changed the water sorption behavior of VES as oil dispersion in storage. Strength analysis indicated that LBL emulsions lubricated systems and increased the molecular mobility of wall materials. Structural collapse, rapid color changes, and β-Car loss were confirmed in VES systems at 0.56 a_w from 25 to 45 °C after 30 days of storage. Besides, a relationship between S and β-Car loss kinetics was established, where the β-Car degraded more rapidly in a sample with quicker molecular mobility of wall materials Therefore, the controlling of molecular mobility in wall materials can slow down the β -Car degradation and improve the quality and stability of lipophilic nutrients delivery systems with high total solids.

Water-soluble caffeic acid-dopamine acid-base complex exhibits enhanced bactericidal, antioxidant, and anticancer properties

Despite the highly potent biological characteristics, the poor water-solubility of caffeic acid (CA) limits its applications in various domains. Here, we present a facile approach, wherein CA has been treated with dopamine hydrochloride (Dopa.HCl) to obtain a water-soluble acid-base complex, which does not possess any covalent bond between the individual components and thus retains their nativity. Simple mixing of CA and Dopa.HCl did not provide water solubility to CA, but the complex became readily soluble in water when the mineral acid was scavenged using sodium bicarbonate. The obtained CA-Dopa complex had been characterized using FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, 2D ¹H-¹H NOESY NMR, XPS, and DSC techniques. The complex was found to exhibit excellent bactericidal, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and anticancer properties in the physiologically relevant pH range of 5.5 to 7.5. The results have revealed the high potential of the simple acid-base complex of CA in diverse domains.

Fabrication and characterization of β-carotene emulsions stabilized by soy oleosin and lecithin mixtures with a composition mimicking natural soy oleosomes

Natural soy oleosomes are known to have a remarkable stability, given the advantage of their sophisticated membrane. The aim of the present study is to examine the concept of fabricating a β-carotene emulsion stabilized by soy oleosin (OLE) and lecithin (LEC) mixtures mimicking the membrane composition of soy oleosomes while providing preferable stability and bioaccessibility. For this, the fabricated emulsion was characterized in terms of droplet size distribution, and emulsion structure, stability and digestion (release and absorption of lipophilic β-carotene). Compared to SPI/LEC (10 : 1) stabilized emulsions, the OLE/LEC (10 : 1) mixture stabilized emulsion exhibited the highest emulsifying activity index (EAI) and emulsifying stability index (ESI) values, and higher encapsulation efficiency. Results show that the β-carotene emulsion stabilized by OLE and LEC mixtures at the ratio of 10 : 1 (w/w) has the most uniform droplet distribution and highest stability. The in vitro gastrointestinal digestion test revealed that the β-carotene emulsion stabilized by OLE and LEC mixtures was digested more rapidly than the emulsion stabilized by soy protein isolate (SPI) and LEC mixtures. In turn, the bioaccessibility and cellular uptake of β-carotene were enhanced, resulting in a higher absorption, a desirable feature of nutrition delivery systems. Our results demonstrated a promising way to fabricate emulsions mimicking natural soy oleosomes.

Effect of the silkworm pupa protein-glucose conjugate on the thermal stability and antioxidant activity of anthocyanins

Anthocyanin (cyanidin-3-O-glucose) is a natural water-soluble pigment with a robust antioxidant capacity. However, its poor stability and bioavailability limits its application as a functional food ingredient. This study explored the ability of the silkworm pupa protein-glucose (Spp-Glu) conjugate, developed under wet-heating conditions, to improve the thermal stability and antioxidant activity of cyanidin-3-O-glucose (C3G) at pH 3.0 and 6.8. The characterization experiments suggested that C3G complexed with the Spp-Glu conjugate could modify the protein's microenvironment and cause unfolding of the protein's secondary structures under varied pH conditions. Spectroscopic techniques further revealed the formation of complexes via hydrophobic interactions and static quenching processes when C3G was bound to Spp or Spp-Glu. The formation of these complexes effectively attenuated C3G degradation, thereby enhancing its stability under heat treatment over a range of pH values, and the experiments measuring antioxidant activity suggested that the Spp-Glu conjugate formed does not affect the efficacy of C3G after complexation. Therefore, our study suggests that Spp-Glu has the potential to effectively protect and deliver anthocyanins during industrial application for functional food formulation.

Bioavailability of quercetin in zein-based colloidal particles-stabilized Pickering emulsions investigated by the in vitro digestion coupled with Caco-2 cell monolayer model

Protein-based Pickering emulsions have received considerable attention as nutraceutical vehicles. However, the oral bioavailability of nutraceuticals encapsulated in Pickering emulsions was not well established. In this work, a simulated gastrointestinal tract/Caco-2 cell culture model was applied to investigate the oral bioavailability of quercetin encapsulated in zein-based Pickering emulsions with quercetin in zein particles as the control. Pickering emulsions with shell (ZCP-QE) and core quercetin (ZCPE-Q) were constructed, and quercetin bioaccessibility, cell uptake and secretion, and the overall bioavailability were evaluated and compared. The overall oral bioavailability of quercetin was increased from 2.71% (bulk oil) to 38.18% (ZCPs-Q) and 18.97% (ZCPE-Q), particularly reached 41.22% for ZCP-QE. This work took new insights into the contributions of bioaccessibility and absorption (cell uptake plus secretion) to the overall oral bioavailability of quercetin. A schematic representation is proposed to relate the types of colloidal nanostructures in the digesta to the uptake, cell absorption, and overall oral bioavailability of quercetin. This study provided an attractive basis for identifying effective strategies to improve the oral bioavailability of hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

Sonochemical effects on the structure and antioxidant activity of egg white protein-tea polyphenol conjugates

The antioxidant properties of proteins could be enhanced by forming covalent conjugates with polyphenols. In this study, the antioxidant activity of egg white protein (EWP) was improved by conjugating with tea polyphenols (TP) using traditional and ultrasound-assisted alkaline/free radical methods. In addition, the influences of TP conjugation on the antioxidant activities and structural and digestive properties of EWP were comprehensively studied. Compared with the traditional methods, the sonochemistry (40 kHz) approaches significantly increased the efficiency of TP grafting to the EWP (P < 0.05) from 24 h to 1 h. Amino acid analysis showed that in the ultrasound-assisted alkaline method, TP was successfully conjugated to the EWP through proline, glutamic acid, cysteine, and tryptophan residues, whereas proline, cysteine, and tryptophan were involved in the free radical method. However, the number of cross-linking sites was increased significantly after ultrasound-assisted treatments. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of the EWP were significantly improved after covalent conjugation with TP using traditional and ultrasound-assisted alkaline/free radical methods, particularly the ultrasound-assisted approaches. Furthermore, circular dichroism revealed that the ultrasound-assisted approaches had the greatest impact with regard to decreasing the α-helix content and increasing the random coil content, which loosened the protein structure, thereby improving its reactivity and digestibility. Therefore, ultrasound-assisted alkaline/free radical methods were efficient and safe means for the production of EWP-TP conjugates.

Synthesis of Sugar Diene and Its Pd-Catalyzed Transformation into Chromanes

A route to synthesize 1,2-disubstituted glucals has been developed, which were further converted to substituted chromanes by thermal 6π-electrocyclization in HMPA followed by in situ aromatization. One of the key steps in the synthesis of chromane is metal-free generation of C1-substituted glucal from d-mannose, which was further converted to 1,2-disubstituted glucals by Pd-catalyzed Fujiwara-Moritani reaction with styrenes, acrylates, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, and ethyl vinyl ketone in good yields.

Modulation of physicochemical stability and bioaccessibility of β-carotene using alginate beads and emulsion stabilized by scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) gonad protein isolates

The colloidal delivery systems fabricated by emulsion containing natural proteins and lipids have been utilized to protect carotenoids as well as to release the carotenoids in the simulated in vitro gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In this study, β-carotene (BC) was embedded into emulsions that were stabilized by scallop gonad protein isolates (SGPIs), and the emulsion droplets containing BC were then entrapped into calcium-alginate beads. The results showed that the oil-in-water emulsions coated by SGPIs only showed good stability at pH 7-8, while the emulsion-alginate beads remained relatively intact at pH 3-8. BC encapsulated in emulsions was extremely unstable and prone to degradation when stored at the comparatively higher temperature (37 °C), whereas the stability of BC was greatly enhanced through incorporation into emulsion-alginate beads. The digestion rate and extent of lipid droplets constructed within SGPIs-stabilized emulsion-alginate beads were slower than that in emulsions during GIT. The confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the lipid droplets in emulsions were aggregated after exposure to the mouth and gastric phases, while the emulsion-alginate beads maintained their spherical shape after exposure to the oral and gastric phases. Moreover, the free lipid droplets in the emulsions showed a higher bioaccessibility of BC (66%) than that in the emulsion-alginate beads (38%), whereas the BC transformation was on the contrary. The findings in this study indicated that SGPIs-stabilized emulsion in alginate beads can potentially be utilized for the encapsulation and controlled release of lipophilic bioactive compounds.

Evaluation of antioxidant modification on the functional and structural properties of EWP conjugates

The aim of this present study was to improve the oxidative stability of egg white protein (EWP) through catechin (CT) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) covalent modification via an alkaline method at pH 9.0. Effects of CT and EGCG conjugation on the antioxidant activities, physicochemical and structural properties of EWP were comprehensively studied. The results indicated that CT and EGCG modification altered the isoelectric point value of EWP to lower pH, thus the solubility of EWP conjugates at pH 3.8 decreased, especially after EGCG conjugation. In addition, the antioxidant activities of EWP–CT and EWP–EGCG conjugates were 2.88 and 3.52 fold (2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities), 2.60 and 7.91 fold (ferric reducing powers) higher than that of the unmodified EWP. Moreover, the CT or EGCG conjugation resulted in an increase in alpha-helix formation with a decrease in the β-sheet formation, indicating that the secondary structure of EWP became more compact after CT or EGCG modification, and Trp and Tyr residues were involved into the conjugation reaction of EWP with CT or EGCG. Furthermore, CT and EGCG conjugation obviously improved the emulsifying stability of EWP, due to the improvement of the antioxidant activity after being modified by the CT or EGCG. In conclusion, CT or EGCG conjugation with EWP via an alkaline method was an effective way to improve the utilization value of EWP.

The aim of this present study was to improve the oxidative stability of egg white protein (EWP) through catechin (CT) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) covalent modification via an alkaline method at pH 9.0.

Anti-Oxidant in China: A Thirty-Year Journey

Anti-oxidant refers to such a kind of endogenous or exogenous compound that is able to retard or even prohibit in vivo or in vitro oxidation with only small amount being used. The study of anti-oxidants starts nearly 30 years ago, and the research on this topic in China almost begins simultaneously with that in the world. Gratifyingly, contributions on anti-oxidants from China researchers have rapidly increased in the recent decade as anti-oxidants have become a hot topic in biochemistry, pharmacology, food science, chemistry as well as other related disciplines. Anti-oxidants provide a specific viewpoint for clarifying pharmacological effects of Chinese medicinal herbs. For example, as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is found to be a natural anti-oxidant resource. Meanwhile, some signaling pathways such as nuclear factor-[Formula: see text]B (NF-[Formula: see text]B), nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), and Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1) are regarded to play an important role in anti-oxidant responses. These findings provide a substantial basis for understanding the pharmacological behaviors of Chinese medicinal herbs in view of regulating the aforementioned signaling pathways. Moreover, inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by supplementation of anti-oxidant becomes a popularly accepted idea in keeping health and treating diseases. Isolations of antio-xidative ingredients from medicinal herbs and foods lead to set up a large range of anti-oxidative compound libraries, and intake of anti-oxidants from foods may be the most efficient way for supplementing exogenous anti-oxidants. On the other hand, designing anti-oxidants with novel structures motivates organic and medicinal chemists to explore the structure–activity relationship, and then, to find novel structural features with anti-oxidative properties. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that China researchers will donate more endeavors to obtain more achievements on anti-oxidants in the future.

Bioaccessibility of Lipophilic Compounds Vehiculated in Emulsions: Choice of Lipids and Emulsifiers

Great efforts have been made to design emulsions considering the need to perform an effective encapsulation, protection, vehiculation, and bioaccessibility of lipophilic compounds. This task can be achieved by manipulating the structure of the emulsion based on the choice of the processes and ingredients of the aqueous phase, interface, and lipid matrix. Thus, the main focus of this perspective is to provide insights into the use of ingredient engineering in manipulating/building emulsion structures that enhance lipophilic compound release and bioaccessibility.

Nanodispersions of beta-carotene: effects on antioxidant enzymes and cytotoxic properties

Beta-carotene is a carotenoid precursor of vitamin A, known for its biological activities. Due to its high hydrophobicity, nanonization processes, i.e. the transformation into nanoparticles, can improve its water affinity, and therefore the activity in aqueous systems. The objective of this study was to produce beta-carotene nanoparticles by the solid dispersion method and to evaluate their effects on the activity of glutathione-S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase enzymes using Drosophila melanogaster (DM) homogenate, the superoxide dismutase- and catalase-like activities under in vitro conditions, and their cytotoxic properties against tumor and non-tumor cells. The formed nanometric beta-carotene particles resulted in stable colloids, readily dispersed in water, able to modulate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and presenting high potential to control the cholinergic system. Beta-carotene nanoparticles, at concentrations much lower than the pure pristine beta-carotene, presented in vitro mimetic activity to superoxide dismutase and altered glutathione-S-transferase activity in DM tissue. The content of hydrogen peroxide was neither affected by the nanoparticles (in aqueous solution) nor by pristine beta-carotene (in DMSO). In the cytotoxic assays, beta-carotene nanoparticles dispersed in water showed activity against four different tumor cell lines. Overall, beta-carotene nanoparticles presented significant bioactivity in aqueous medium surpassing their high hydrophobicity constraint.