RT Journal Article
T1 Effects of lutein, phytoene and carotenoid-rich microalgal extracts on the epidermis of Caenorhabditis elegans
A1 Morón Ortiz, Ángeles
A1 Ferrando Marcos, Mar
A1 León Vaz, Antonio
A1 León Bañares, Rosa María
A1 Mapelli Brahm, Paula
A1 Barkoulas, Michalis
A1 Meléndez Martínez, Antonio J.
AB Carotenoids are widespread bioactive compounds that can accumulate in the skin. Microalgae, such as Chlorella sorokiniana and Dunaliella bardawil, are a sustainable source of natural carotenoids. This study evaluates the effect of phytoene- and lutein-rich green microalgal extracts along with pure phytoene and lutein, on the epidermis of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Wild-type and sensitised mutant  backgrounds were used to examine the effect of the selected carotenoids on epidermal stem cells, which differentiate to give rise to mature epidermal, neuronal, and support cell types. We also assessed their impact on cuticle integrity, the protective outer layer secreted by epidermal cells. Results revealed that phytoene-enriched microalgae at 3 μg/mL significantly increased stem cell number and improved cuticle integrity (4.4- to 12.4-fold less permeable). Our findings support a role for carotenoids in the epidermis of C. elegans, with potential implications for future developments in dermocosmetics.
PB Elsevier
SN 0308-8146
SN 1873-7072 (electrónico)
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27993
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27993
LA eng
NO Morón-Ortiz, Á., Ferrando-Marco, M., León-Vaz, A., León, R., Mapelli-Brahm, P., Barkoulas, M., & Jesús, M. M., Antonio. (2025). Effects of lutein, phytoene and carotenoid-rich microalgal extracts on the epidermis of Caenorhabditis elegans. Food Chemistry, 497, 147022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.147022
NO This study was financially supported by grants PID2022- 140995OB-C22 (SUSHEALTHCARICH) and PID2022-140995OB-C21 (CARACAS) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ERDF/EU. In addition, the authors also acknowledge grants PID2019- 110438RB-C21 (NEWCARFOODS) and PID2019-110438RB-C22 (BES TALGAE4CAROT) funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033and ERDF/EU. PMB gratefully acknowledges funding from the VII Plan Propio de Investigaci´on y Transferencia of the University of Seville (VII PPIT-US), under the Contrato Acci´on II.4 PPIT (Plan de Captaci´on y Retenci´on de Talento) and acknowledge the Postdoc fellowship from the Ministry of Economic Transformation, Industry, Knowledge and Uni versities of the Andalucía Board (PAIDI 2020). AMO was supported by a grant associated to grant PID2019-110438RB-C21 (NEWCARFOODS). AJMM, AMO, AMBG, CMS and PMB are members of the Spanish Carotenoid Network (CaRed), grant RED2022-134577-T, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ERDF/EU.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 31 may 2026