Identification of carotenoids in ovarian tissue in women

Ewa Czeczuga-Semeniuk, Slawomir Wolczynski
Oncology reports · 2005 · doi:10.3892/or.14.5.1385 · PMID:16211314
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This study identified 14 carotenoids, including provitamin A types, in ovarian tissues, finding varying concentrations across different pathological lesions and suggesting their potential chemopreventive role.

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This study identified and quantitatively assessed carotenoids, focusing on provitamin A carotenoids, in ovarian tissue from 100 women aged 16–74 undergoing surgery for ovarian tumors, using column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Across tissues, 14 carotenoids were identified (including β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, echinenone, and hydroxyechinenone), with overall total carotenoid levels relatively low and provitamin A carotenoids averaging 17.28%, similar to normal ovarian tissue. Total carotenoids were lower in several lesion categories (e.g., benign mucinous tumors, thecoma-fibroma, dysgerminoma) but were higher in the endometriosis group (2.185 µg/g tissue); the paper reports specific carotenoids present across histologies and some appearing only sporadically. The paper explicitly interprets carotenoids as potentially chemopreventive, but it is limited to compositional measurement without mechanistic or clinical outcome analysis. Relevance to endometriosis: the study directly reports higher total carotenoid content in the endometriosis tissue group relative to other ovarian lesion groups, though the paper’s main topic is carotenoid identification in ovarian tissue across lesions.

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Abstract

Epidemiological and clinical studies have revealed that vitamin A and its derivatives (carotenoids and retinoids) can reduce the risk of ovarian tumours and may have a role in the metabolism of patients with ovarian cancer. The aim of the study was identification and quantitative assessment of carotenoids found in nature, mainly of provitamin A group, in the tissue material obtained from patients with different lesions of the ovaries. Material for analysis was obtained from 100 women, aged 16-74, operated on for ovarian tumours in the Department of Gynaecology. Carotenoid pigments were separated using column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. In the tissue material subjected to analysis, 14 carotenoids were identified, including provitamin A carotenoids; beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, echinenone and hydroxyechinenone. alpha-carotene was not found. In the whole group of pathological lesions, the total carotenoid content was relatively low (mean 1.717 microg/g tissue) and the mean content of provitamin A carotenoids was 17.28%. These results are similar to results obtained in the group of normal ovarian tissue. In the group of benign mucinous tumours (1.042 microg/g tissue) and tumours in the thecoma-fibroma group (1.328 microg/g tissue) and dysgerminoma group (1.279 microg/g tissue), the total carotenoid content was lower. Only in the endometriosis group was this value higher (2.185 microg/g tissue). Epoxy carotenoids; lutein epoxide, violaxanthin and mutatoxanthin were predominant (in %). Irrespective of histological classification, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein epoxide, violaxanthin and mutatoxanthin were identified in all tissue examined. Antheraxanthin was isolated in all tissue except for normal ovarian tissue, serous malignant and mucinous benign and malignant tumours, endometrioid malignant tumours, dermoid cysts, corpus luteum cysts and simple cysts. Hydroxyechinenone was isolated sporadically. Only in one case was capsanthin isolated. Carotenoids act as chemopreventive agents, irrespective of whether they are finally transformed into vitamin A, and may represent a potentially powerful alternative to present chemotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of ovarian cancer.
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Print ISSN: 1021-335X Online ISSN: 1791-2431 International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease. International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment. Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery. Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine. Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology. Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology. International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis. Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology. Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition. Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease. An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine. Article - Authors: - Pages: 1385-1392|Published online on: November 1, 2005https://doi.org/10.3892/or.14.5.1385 - Expand metrics + Epidemiological and clinical studies have revealed that vitamin A and its derivatives (carotenoids and retinoids) can reduce the risk of ovarian tumours and may have a role in the metabolism of patients with ovarian cancer. The aim of the study was identification and quantitative assessment of carotenoids found in nature, mainly of provitamin A group, in the tissue material obtained from patients with different lesions of the ovaries. Material for analysis was obtained from 100 women, aged 16-74, operated on for ovarian tumours in the Department of Gynaecology. Carotenoid pigments were separated using column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. In the tissue material subjected to analysis, 14 carotenoids were identified, including provitamin A carotenoids; β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, echinenone and hydroxyechinenone. α-carotene was not found. In the whole group of pathological lesions, the total carotenoid content was relatively low (mean 1.717 µg/g tissue) and the mean content of provitamin A carotenoids was 17.28%. These results are similar to results obtained in the group of normal ovarian tissue. In the group of benign mucinous tumours (1.042 µg/g tissue) and tumours in the thecoma-fibroma group (1.328 µg/g tissue) and dysgerminoma group (1.279 µg/g tissue), the total carotenoid content was lower. Only in the endometriosis group was this value higher (2.185 µg/g tissue). Epoxy carotenoids; lutein epoxide, violaxanthin and mutatoxanthin were predominant (in %). Irrespective of histological classification, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein epoxide, violaxanthin and mutatoxanthin were identified in all tissue examined. Antheraxanthin was isolated in all tissue except for normal ovarian tissue, serous malignant and mucinous benign and malignant tumours, endometrioid malignant tumours, dermoid cysts, corpus luteum cysts and simple cysts. Hydroxyechinenone was isolated sporadically. Only in one case was capsanthin isolated. Carotenoids act as chemopreventive agents, irrespective of whether they are finally transformed into vitamin A, and may represent a potentially powerful alternative to present chemotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of ovarian cancer. Copy and paste a formatted citation Spandidos Publications style Czeczuga-Semeniuk E and Wolczynski S: Identification of carotenoids in ovarian tissue in women. Oncol Rep 14: 1385-1392, 2005. APA Czeczuga-Semeniuk, E., & Wolczynski, S. (2005). Identification of carotenoids in ovarian tissue in women. Oncology Reports, 14, 1385-1392. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.14.5.1385 MLA Czeczuga-Semeniuk, E., Wolczynski, S."Identification of carotenoids in ovarian tissue in women". Oncology Reports 14.5 (2005): 1385-1392. Chicago Czeczuga-Semeniuk, E., Wolczynski, S."Identification of carotenoids in ovarian tissue in women". Oncology Reports 14, no. 5 (2005): 1385-1392. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.14.5.1385

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endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Carotenoids Carotenoids Ovarian Neoplasms Ovary Adolescent Adult Aged Carotenoids Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Thin Layer Female Humans Middle Aged Ovarian Neoplasms Ovarian Neoplasms Ovary

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