Uses of a carotenoid in the treatment or prevention of stress induced conditions

Abstract

The invention relates to a carotenoid for use in the treatment or prevention of stress induced conditions, and in particular it relates to the treatment or prevention of a disease mediated by glucocorticoid receptor activity. The invention also relates to a cosmetic method for preventing premature-aging of skin in a subject which comprises administering a carotenoid to said subject. Finally, the invention relates to a method for modulating the activity of a glucocorticoid receptor comprising contacting the receptor with a carotenoid.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A cosmetic method for preventing premature-aging of skin in a subject which comprises administering a carotenoid to said subject, with the proviso that the carotenoid is not astaxanthin or beta-carotene. 
     
     
         26 . The cosmetic method according to  claim 25  wherein the premature aging of skin is caused by corticoids. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the carotenoid is a xanthophyll. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the xanthophyll is selected from the group consisting of α-cryptoxantin, β-cryptoxantin, adonirubin, adonixanthin, alloxanthin, amarouciaxanthin A, antheraxanthin, auroxanthin, caloxanthin, cantaxanthin, capsanthin, capsanthin-5-6-epoxide, capsorubin, crocoxanthin, diadinoxanthin, diatoxanthin, echinenone, fucoxanthin, fucoxanthinol, iso-fucoxanthin, iso-fucoxanthinol, lutein, luteoxanthin, mutatoxanthin, neoxanthin, nostoxanthin, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the xanthophyll is amarouciaxanthin A. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29  wherein the xantophyll is neoxanthin, fucoxanthin, isofuncoxanthinol or lutein. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to any of  claim 25  wherein the carotenoid is a carotene. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31  wherein the carotene is selected from the group consisting of α-carotene, γ-carotene, δ-carotene, ε-carotene, ζ-carotene, lycopene, neurosporene, phytoene, phytofluene and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the carotenoid is provided as an algal, fungal or plant extract. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         35 . A cosmetic method for modulating an activity of a glucocorticoid receptor comprising contacting the receptor with a carotenoid, with the proviso that the carotenoid is not astaxanthin or beta-carotene. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the carotenoid is administered as part of a food, a drink, a nutraceutical composition, functional food, functional nutrition product, medical food, dietary supplement or botanical drug. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the carotenoid is a xanthophyll. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37  wherein the xanthophyll is selected from the group consisting of α-cryptoxantin, β-cryptoxantin, adonirubin, adonixanthin, alloxanthin, amarouciaxanthin A, antheraxanthin, auroxanthin, caloxanthin, cantaxanthin, capsanthin, capsanthin-5-6-epoxide, capsorubin, crocoxanthin, diadinoxanthin, diatoxanthin, echinenone, fucoxanthin, fucoxanthinol, iso-fucoxanthin, iso-fucoxanthinol, lutein, luteoxanthin, mutatoxanthin, neoxanthin, nostoxanthin, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38  wherein the xanthophyll is amarouciaxanthin A. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38  wherein the xantophyll is neoxanthin, fucoxanthin, isofuncoxanthinol or lutein. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the carotenoid is a carotene. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41  wherein the carotene is selected from the group consisting of α-carotene, γ-carotene, δ-carotene, ε-carotene, ζ-carotene, lycopene, neurosporene, phytoene, phytofluene and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the carotenoid is provided as an algal, fungal or plant extract. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the subject is a human.