叶黄素 (lutein)及其护眼功能

类胡萝卜素中有一种叶黄素 ,它广泛存在于绿色蔬菜和人体的血浆和眼球中。它不仅有和类胡萝卜素相似的抗氧化活性 ,而且对视网膜色斑褪化引起的视力下降和失明有明显的保护作用。目前在欧美以叶黄素为功能因子的护眼食品已大量商品化。鉴于从蔬菜中提取不仅含量低成本过于昂贵 ,成熟的技术是从叶黄素含量较高的万寿菊 (金盏花 )中提取。本文简要介绍叶黄素性质功用、不同来源含量以及国内外发展状况。

Lutein-Functional Food

Lutein is one of the carotenoids, occurs in a large of green vegetables and plasma,eye of body. Lutein have specific biological function, not only antioxidantive similar the carotenoids, but can prevent age_related marcular degeneration (AMD). In present time functional food of lutein have produced in large scale and have supplied to market in western world. Because lutein extracts from green vegetables are too expensive,commodity lutein can be extracted from Tagetse erecta.In this paper,the function,source and development situation of lutein are introduced.