Apocarotenal, or ''trans''-β-apo-8'-carotenal, is a carotenoid found in spinach and

citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...

fruits. Like other carotenoids, apocarotenal plays a role as a precursor of

vitamin A Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and an essential nutrient for humans. It is a group of organic compounds that includes retinol, retinal (also known as retinaldehyde), retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids (most notably ...

, even though it has 50% less pro-vitamin A activity than

β-carotene β-Carotene is an organic, strongly coloured red-orange pigment abundant in fungi, plants, and fruits. It is a member of the carotenes, which are terpenoids (isoprenoids), synthesized biochemically from eight isoprene units and thus having 40 ...

. The empirical chemical formula for apocarotenal is C₃₀H₄₀O. Apocarotenal has an orange to orange-red colour and is used in foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetic products. Depending on the product forms, apocarotenal is used in fat based food ( margarine, sauces,

salad dressing A salad dressing is a sauce for salads. Used on virtually all '' leafy salads'', dressings may also be used in making salads of beans (such as three bean salad), noodle or pasta salads and antipasti, and forms of potato salad. Salad dressing ...

), beverages, dairy products and sweets. Its E number is E160e and it is approved for usage as a food additive in the US, EU and Australia and New Zealand.

Possible carcinogenicity

Epidemiological Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population. It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidenc ...

studies have shown that people with high β-carotene intake and high plasma levels of β-carotene have a significantly reduced risk of lung

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

. However, studies of supplementation with large doses of β-carotene in smokers have shown an increase in

risk, possibly because excessive β-carotene results in breakdown products that reduce plasma

and worsen the lung cell proliferation induced by smoke . The chief β-carotene breakdown product suspected of this behavior is ''trans''-''beta''-apo-8'-carotenal (common apocarotenal) , which has been found in one study to be mutagenic and genotoxic in cell cultures which do not respond to β-carotene itself.

References

External links

Some info on apocarotenal
* {{Carotenoids Food colorings Apocarotenoids Cyclohexenes E-number additives