类胡萝卜素的生理作用研究

Research of Physiological Roles of Carotenoids

类胡萝卜素是一类广泛存在于自然界的脂溶性色素，体内外研究表明具有抗氧化、抗凋亡和抗癌作用。流行病学研究表明，富含类胡萝卜素的水果和蔬菜等食物能够降低慢性疾病的风险，例如老年性黄斑病变、心血管疾病以及各种癌症。类胡萝卜素通过作用于细胞内信号通路，从而影响基因表达和蛋白质翻译。随着科学技术的发展，类胡萝卜素的生物活性对预防慢性疾病的调控机制，特别是分子方面相关的蛋白表达和生理研究日趋深入。文章简述了类胡萝卜素在细胞内信号传导途径、体内外生理作用以及对人类健康的重要意义。

Carotenoids represent the most abundant lipid-soluble phytochemicals that are ubiquitously present in the nature. In vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that they have antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anticancer properties. Several epidemiologic studies have shown that diets rich in fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of developing several chronic diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, cardiovascular disease, and many kinds of cancers. Recently, carotenoids are found to influence gene expression and protein translation by acting on the intracellular signaling cascades. With the development of science and technology, roles of carotenoids in preventing chronic diseases have been elucidated, especially in molecular aspects, such as proteins expression and physiological researches related to carotenoids. The present review provides an insight into signaling pathways of carotenoids and the physiological roles of carotenoids in vitro and in vivo.