As humans are unable to synthesize carotenoids, they must ingest plant products or animal products that have been enriched with carotenoids to meet daily health recommendations. The six most commonly ingested carotenoids in the human diet can be separated into two groups:
(1) Provitamin A carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin)
(2) Non-provitamin A carotenoids (lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin).
Lutein is one of the most prevalent carotenoids in nature and in the human diet. In ripe bananas, one of the major carotenoids is lutein. Lutein abundantly found in banana peel and belongs to xanthophyll's family.
Like the other carotenoids, lutein has been shown to have antioxidant effects. Lutein and zeaxanthin are constituents of the pigment of the eye. A low density of this pigment in the macula of the eye may increase the risk of the disorder macular degeneration, possibly because it permits greater blue light damage.
Lutein is likely neuro-protective through its role as an antioxidant, an effect that may apply globally and not be limited to specific regions or cognitive domains.
The brain is especially vulnerable to free radical attack due to its high polyunsaturated fatty acid content and high metabolic activity. Lutein is differentially localized to membrane domains rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids including DHA, and therefore is well positioned to block oxidation of these vulnerable lipids.
What is lutein?
Bananas represent on of the most widely traded agricultural goods in the world with annual export valued at five billion dollars. There are two main varieties of bananas, the fruit or sweet banana and the plantain.....
The most popular posts
-
The pulp of ripe banana consist essentially of sugar and is therefore easily digestible. The fruit is mainly starch some of which is convert...
-
Banana Physical Characteristics Healthy filling, and even already wrapped for the consumer, bananas are one of nature’s ideal foods and the...
-
Plantains or banana plants were cultivated in India from very early times. Religious rituals in Sastric tradition describe it as highly ausp...
-
Bananas need a lot of water to grow well. Banana thrives in fertile, well-drained soils with high water holding capacity. The soil moisture ...
-
Banana processing There are many products that can be obtained from banana processing. In addition to dried banana, other important product...