Resonance Raman detection of carotenoid antioxidants in living human tissue

Igor V. Ermakov; Mohsen Sharifzadeh; Maia R. Ermakova; Werner Gellermann

doi:10.1117/1.2139974

1 November 2005 Resonance Raman detection of carotenoid antioxidants in living human tissue

Igor V. Ermakov, Mohsen Sharifzadeh, Maia R. Ermakova, Werner Gellermann

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 10, Issue 6, 064028 (November 2005). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2139974

Abstract

Increasing evidence points to the beneficial effects of carotenoid antioxidants in the human body. Several studies, for example, support the protective role of lutein and zeaxanthin in the prevention of age-related eye diseases. If present in high concentrations in the macular region of the retina, lutein and zeaxanthin provide pigmentation in this most light sensitive retinal spot, and as a result of light filtering and/or antioxidant action, delay the onset of macular degeneration with increasing age. Other carotenoids, such as lycopene and beta-carotene, play an important role as well in the protection of skin from UV and short-wavelength visible radiation. Lutein and lycopene may also have protective function for cardiovascular health, and lycopene may play a role in the prevention of prostate cancer. Motivated by the growing importance of carotenoids in health and disease, and recognizing the lack of any accepted noninvasive technology for the detection of carotenoids in living human tissue, we explore resonance Raman spectroscopy as a novel approach for noninvasive, laser optical carotenoid detection. We review the main results achieved recently with the Raman detection approach. Initially we applied the method to the detection of macular carotenoid pigments, and more recently to the detection of carotenoids in human skin and mucosal tissues. Using skin carotenoid Raman instruments, we measure the carotenoid response from the stratum corneum layer of the palm of the hand for a population of 1375 subjects and develope a portable skin Raman scanner for field studies. These experiments reveal that carotenoids are a good indicator of antioxidant status.

©(2005) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Igor V. Ermakov, Mohsen Sharifzadeh, Maia R. Ermakova, and Werner Gellermann "Resonance Raman detection of carotenoid antioxidants in living human tissue," Journal of Biomedical Optics 10(6), 064028 (1 November 2005). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2139974

Published: 1 November 2005

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