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Product name: Lutein
Synonym name: Xanthophyll; β,ε-Carotene-3,3′-diol
Catalogue No.: BP0895
Cas No.: 127-40-2
Formula: C40H56O2
Mol Weight: 568.886
Botanical Source: Echinacea purpurea （Linn.） Moench
Physical Description:
Type of Compound: Terpenoids
Purity: 95%~99%
Analysis Method: HPLC-DAD or/and HPLC-ELSD
Identification Method: Mass, NMR
Packing: Brown vial or HDPE plastic bottle
Storage: Store in a well closed container, protected from air and light. Put into refrigerate or freeze for long term storage.
Whenever possible, you should prepare and use solutions on the same day. However, if you need to make up stock solutions in advance, we recommend that you store the solution as aliquots in tightly sealed vials at -20℃. Generally, these will be useable for up to two weeks.
The product could be supplied from milligrams to grams
Inquire for bulk scale.
Chengdu Biopurify Phytochemicals Ltd. is a leading company in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of High Quality Phytochemicals and Extracts(especially Active Ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicine，TCM), Natural Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients worldwide.
The main services:
A. Supply active ingredients and reference standards of TCM, from mgs to kgs scale
B. Custom extraction and purification, target Herb Active Ingredients
C. Custom synthesis and semi-synthesis for Natural Active Ingredients
D. CR(contract research), CM(contract manufacture) and PD(process development) services from lab scale, pilot scale to commercial scale(GMP is also available)
E. TCM compounds library for drug screen,more than 3000 compounds available, many of them are rare and unique.
HPLC of Lutein
HNMR of Lutein
Storage conditions：Short-term storage at 2~8℃, long-term storage at -20 ~ -80℃
40.4600
10.2169
10.2158
.0001
5.0626
4.3232
High
96.2361
4.9600
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
0.0
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Lutein, CAS number 127-40-2, is an important member of the carotenoid family and belongs to the xanthophyll class of natural pigments. It is widely found in green vegetables, corn, egg yolks, and other foods, and has attracted attention for its remarkable bioactivity and health benefits, especially in the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases. Lutein not only has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but also exerts neuroprotective and antidepressant effects by regulating apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, lutein has good oral bioavailability and high blood-brain barrier penetration ability, demonstrating its potential application value in central nervous system diseases. This paper systematically reviews the chemical structure and physicochemical properties of lutein, plant origin and extraction methods, pharmacological activity, mechanism of action, druggability evaluation, and clinical application prospects, aiming to provide theoretical basis and reference for natural product pharmacology and related clinical research.
Lutein is a polyunsaturated carotenoid containing 40 carbon atoms, with a molecular formula of C40H56O2 and a molecular weight of 568.8860. Its structural features include two terminal hydroxyl rings (β-rings) and a long-chain conjugated double bond system in the middle, giving it unique optical and chemical properties. Lutein has a LogP value as high as 10.2169, indicating its strong hydrophobicity, poorly soluble in water (solubility about 0.0001 mg/mL), but easily soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol, ethyl acetate, and lipid media. Its polar surface area (TPSA) is 40.4600, indicating low molecular polarity, which is conducive to penetrating lipid membrane structures.
The molecular structure of lutein contains two hydroxyl groups, giving it a certain polarity in carotenoids, distinguishing it from pure hydrocarbon carotenoids such as β-carotene. This hydroxyl structure not only gives lutein strong free radical scavenging ability, but may also participate in interactions with biomacromolecules. Additionally, lutein's highly conjugated double bond system enables it to effectively absorb blue light, protecting the retina from photooxidative damage.
Lutein is mainly found in various leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, amaranth, and pea leaves, and is also found in corn, egg yolks, and certain fruits. Lutein in plants mainly exists in two forms: free and esterified, with esterified forms dominating in some plants.
Traditional lutein extraction methods mostly use organic solvent extraction, commonly using ethanol, ethyl acetate, hexane, and their mixed solvent systems. During extraction, avoid exposure to light and high temperatures to prevent oxidation and isomerization of lutein. In recent years, supercritical CO2 extraction technology has gradually become one of the mainstream lutein extraction technologies due to its advantages of being environmentally friendly, highly selective, and highly efficient. This method can efficiently extract lutein at lower temperatures while maintaining its biological activity.
After extraction, purification and quantitative analysis are often performed using silica gel column chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Lutein products with higher purity can be used in the development of pharmaceutical formulations and functional foods.
The pharmacological activity of lutein is mainly reflected in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, and neuroprotective aspects, especially in the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases.
Lutein effectively scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals, reducing cellular damage caused by oxidative stress. Its conjugated double-bond system can capture singlet oxygen and superoxide anions, protecting cell membrane lipids from peroxidation. Multiple in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that lutein can significantly enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD1, SOD2) and catalase (CAT), enhancing the body's antioxidant defense capacity.
Lutein reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukins by inhibiting the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, thereby alleviating inflammatory responses. Its anti-inflammatory effects are of great significance for alleviating chronic eye inflammation and nervous system inflammation.
Lutein can regulate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in cells and inhibit the apoptosis processes of retinal and nerve cells. By regulating Bcl-2 family proteins and mitochondrial function, lutein protects cells from apoptosis damage induced by oxidative stress.
Lutein has excellent blood-brain barrier penetration and can enter the central nervous system. Research shows that lutein protects neurons through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, reducing neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, lutein exhibits antidepressant-like effects in animal depression models, possibly related to its regulation of neurotransmitters and neuroinflammation.
The biological effects of lutein are mainly realized by regulating multiple signaling pathways and key molecular targets, especially prominent in ophthalmic diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Lutein activates the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2, also known as Nrf2) signaling pathway, promoting the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD1, SOD2, and CAT, thereby enhancing cellular antioxidant defense. As the main oxidative stress sensing factor within cells, Nrf2's activation helps resist oxidative damage.
Lutein inhibits activation of the NF-κB (NFKB1) signaling pathway, reduces the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, and alleviates inflammatory responses. NF-κB is a core transcription factor in inflammatory responses, and its inhibition plays an important role in alleviating chronic inflammation.
Lutein can regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF, VEGFA) and inhibit abnormal angiogenesis, which is beneficial for preventing and treating retinal neovascularization in AMD. Abnormal angiogenesis is one of the important pathological mechanisms in late AMD.
Lutein's regulation of complement factor H (CFH) and age-related macular degeneration-related protein 2 (ARMS2) suggests that lutein may influence the progression of AMD by modulating immune responses and inflammatory states. CFH and ARMS2 are key genetic susceptibility genes for AMD and are involved in local retinal immune homeostasis.
The druggability parameters of lutein indicate that it possesses certain oral activity and safety.
Lutein can be effectively absorbed orally, and due to its high hydrophobicity, it mainly enters the bloodstream through lipid-mediated absorption. Although its high LogP value limits water solubility, it facilitates penetration of lipid membranes, including the blood-brain barrier, supporting its neuroprotective effects. High blood-brain barrier penetration is a key advantage that sets lutein apart from many natural products.
Lutein does not show hERG channel inhibition, suggesting a low risk of cardiotoxicity. The Ames test result was 0.0, indicating no significant genotoxicity. In clinical and animal experiments, lutein was well tolerated, with no serious adverse reactions observed.
Lutein is mainly metabolized by the liver, and its metabolic pathway is not yet fully understood; it may involve the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. Due to its lipid solubility, lutein easily binds to lipoproteins in the body, affecting its distribution and metabolism. Further research is needed in the future on its drug interactions and metabolic kinetic characteristics.
As a safe and effective natural carotenoid, lutein shows broad application prospects in the prevention and treatment of various diseases.
Lutein is most widely used in the prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Numerous clinical studies have shown that lutein supplementation can improve the pigment density of the retina and macula, slow the progression of AMD, and enhance visual function. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic effects form the basis of its therapeutic effects.
The neuroprotective and antidepressant effects of lutein provide theoretical support for its potential applications in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as psychiatric disorders. In the future, clinical trials will be needed to verify its efficacy and safety.
Lutein's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties give it potential for development in cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and immune regulation. Combining modern drug delivery technologies, such as nanocarriers and liposomes, may further enhance bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.
Lutein's high hydrophobicity and low water solubility limit its oral absorption and bioavailability, making it urgent to develop new formulation technologies to overcome this bottleneck. Moreover, the mechanism of action of lutein is not yet fully understood, especially in the regulation of targets at the molecular level and signaling pathway crossover, which require further research. In the future, combining multi-omics technology and systemic pharmacology approaches is expected to reveal a more comprehensive biological function and clinical value of lutein.
As an important natural carotenoid, lutein shows broad application prospects in ophthalmic and neurological disease prevention and treatment due to its remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. Its good safety and oral activity make it a hot topic for pharmacological research of natural products and the development of functional foods. In the future, by optimizing extraction and purification technologies, deeply analyzing molecular mechanisms, and conducting high-quality clinical trials, lutein is expected to become an important natural medicinal resource for the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases. The field of natural product pharmacology should continue to focus on multidimensional research on lutein, promoting its transformation into clinical applications to benefit a wide range of patients.
Shenshuai
Wenjing
Hedandan
