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C9750

Sigma-Aldrich

β-Carotene

synthetic, ≥93% (UV), powder

Synonym(s):

β,β-Carotene, Provitamin A

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About This Item

Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):
C40H56
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
536.87
Beilstein:
1917416
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352205
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.79

biological source

synthetic

Assay

≥93% (UV)

form

powder

potency

~1,600,000 units vitamin A per g

color

dark red to brown

mp

178-179 °C

solubility

hexane: 1.1 mg/mL
DMSO: 30 μg/mL

storage temp.

−20°C

SMILES string

CC1=C(/C=C/C(C)=C/C=C/C(C)=C/C=C/C=C(C)/C=C/C=C(C)/C=C/C2=C(C)CCCC2(C)C)C(C)(C)CCC1

InChI

1S/C40H56/c1-31(19-13-21-33(3)25-27-37-35(5)23-15-29-39(37,7)8)17-11-12-18-32(2)20-14-22-34(4)26-28-38-36(6)24-16-30-40(38,9)10/h11-14,17-22,25-28H,15-16,23-24,29-30H2,1-10H3/b12-11+,19-13+,20-14+,27-25+,28-26+,31-17+,32-18+,33-21+,34-22+

InChI key

OENHQHLEOONYIE-JLTXGRSLSA-N

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General description

Carotenoids are an important class of naturally occurring pigments found in fruits and vegetables. Among the carotenoids, β-carotene has the greatest provitamin A potential and functions to reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and macular degeneration. Low water solubility and poor chemical stability attributes to low absorption of β-carotene from food. β-carotene along with digestible lipids enriches its bio accessibility. Emulsions or nano emulsions encapsulates effectively delivers lipophilic β-carotene and increases its bioavailability. β-carotene has anti-oxidant potential and reduces noise induced hearing loss and progression of macular degeneration.

Application

β-carotene has been used:
  • to generate nano emulsions to evaluate their bioavailability potential
  • as a standard, for β-carotene evaluation in blood and skin samples using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),
  • as a dietary supplement of vitamin-A in young rats by HPLC
  • as a dietary supplement in mice to reduce hearing loss and hair cell damage

Biochem/physiol Actions

The most important of the provitamins A, β-carotene can be classified as an antioxidant due to its inhibition of radical initiated peroxidation in vitro. However, in vivo it appears to act either as an antioxidant or a prooxidant depending on cellular environment. It reduces the incidence of many cancers, but enhances lung cancer incidence in smokers.

Packaging

Packaged in serum vials.

Caution

Purchase minimum quantity required. Discard one month after opening.

Storage Class Code

11 - Combustible Solids

WGK

WGK 1

Flash Point(F)

217.9 °F - closed cup

Flash Point(C)

103.3 °C - closed cup

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

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