Lutein with various therapeutic activities based on micro and nanoformulations: A systematic mini-review

Lutein is a carotenoid with reported anticancer, antibacterial, anticancer, antineurodegenerative, and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, this bioactive phytocompound as a potential antioxidant has beneficial effects on cardiovascular, cognitive function, and eye health. Preserving neural efficiency, verbal fluency, and efficient learning have been identified for this metabolite. In the case of cardioprotective effect, lutein can increase nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and micro RNA (miR)-200a expressions. Lutein as a carotenoid is a natural lipid-soluble pigment, and its clinical application needs a new efficient formulation design suitable for physiological conditions. Nanoencapsulation of lutein by nanomaterials in different morphologies can ameliorate its therapeutic capacity by increasing bioavailability. This mini-review presents critical knowledge gaps in the clinical application of lutein and offers potential avenues for future research, particularly based on micro and nano aspects. In this regard, literatures were analyzed systematically from PubMed, which were published from 1994 to 2023. This mini-review showed that nanocarriers can increase the bioavailability of lutein in the liver and plasma compared to pristine lutein.