Betanin Betanin

Betanin is a red glycoside extracted from beets. It is a water-soluble nitrogen-containing pigment that can be used as a food colorant.

Betanin is a red glycoside extracted from beets. It is a water-soluble nitrogen-containing pigment that can be used as a food colorant[1]. Betanin is unstable and easily degraded under light and high temperature[2]. Betanin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and also has neuroprotective effects[3].

In vitro, Betanin (10-80µM) treatment of human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 cells for 12-48h dose- and time-dependently inhibited cell viability, induced cell apoptosis, induced the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol, and reduced membrane potential[4]. Betanin (15μM) treatment of THP-1 cells for 24h significantly induced the expression of IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 mRNA in cells[5].

In vivo, oral administration of Betanin (100mg/kg) to a neurodegenerative disease model mouse for 2 weeks had a significant anxiolytic effect, prevented hippocampal CA1 degeneration and changes in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, and improved spatial learning and memory impairment[6]. Oral administration of Betanin (20mg/kg) to a hyperlipidemic diet-induced oxidative stress rat for 20 days reduced liver malondialdehyde content, increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, and reversed liver tissue damage[7].

References:

[1] Coy-Barrera E. Analysis of betalains (betacyanins and betaxanthins)[M]//Recent advances in natural products analysis. Elsevier, 2020: 593-619.

[2] Azeredo H M C. Betalains: properties, sources, applications, and stability–a review[J]. International journal of food science & technology, 2009, 44(12): 2365-2376.

[3] Thong-Asa W, Puenpha K, Lairaksa T, et al. Neuroprotective effects of betanin in mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury[J]. Experimental Animals, 2023, 72(3): 336-345.

[4] Sreekanth D, Arunasree M K, Roy K R, et al. Betanin a betacyanin pigment purified from fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica induces apoptosis in human chronic myeloid leukemia Cell line-K562[J]. Phytomedicine, 2007, 14(11): 739-746.

[5] Muramatsu D, Uchiyama H, Higashi H, et al. Effects of heat degradation of betanin in red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) on biological activity and antioxidant capacity[J]. Plos one, 2023, 18(5): e0286255.

[6] Thong-Asa W, Prasartsri S, Klomkleaw N, et al. The neuroprotective effect of betanin in trimethyltin-induced neurodegeneration in mice[J]. Metabolic Brain Disease, 2020, 35: 1395-1405.

[7] da Silva D V T, Pereira A D A, Boaventura G T, et al. Short-term betanin intake reduces oxidative stress in wistar rats[J]. Nutrients, 2019, 11(9): 1978.