Alpha-carotene-5,6-epoxide

Cuscuta australis R. Brown Dou Tu Si (Dodder) (seed, aerial part) Carotenoids, alpha-carotene-5, 6-epoxide, taraxanthin, lutein.48 For fever, constipation, diuretic. 

The interaction of carotenoids with cigarette smoke has become a subject of interest since the results of the Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group 1994 (ATBC) and CARET (Omenn et al. 1996) studies were released. P-Carotene has been hypothesized to promote lung carcinogenesis by acting as a prooxidant in the smoke-exposed lung. Thus, the autoxidation of P-carotene in the presence of cigarette smoke was studied in model systems (toluene) (Baker et al. 1999). The major product was identified as 4-nitro-P-carotene, but apocarotenals and P-carotene epoxides were also encountered. 

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