Why Orange Capsicums need to be in your shopping cart?

Abstract 
Zeaxanthin, an orange-coloured carotenoid, has been associated with slowing the progression of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Zeaxanthin is obtained from dietary sources but compared to other carotenoids such as beta-carotene or lutein, it is a relatively uncommon carotenoid in the western diet. Orange capsicums, also known as bell peppers, have been specifically reported to be an excellent source of zeaxanthin, with a greater concentration of zeaxanthin than any other dietary vegetable. Apart from this general observation, very little has been reported about the mechanism of production/storage of zeaxanthin in such amounts in orange capsicums. Thus, our goal is to identify high zeaxanthin orange capsicum varieties, which can meet the daily dietary requirement and to understand the mechanism(s) associated with zeaxanthin accumulation. This research project is funded by Hort Innovation and the University of Queensland.

Profile 
Ms Rimjhim Agarwal is a PhD researcher at The University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Australia. She is trying to understand the mechanism responsible for zeaxanthin accumulation in orange-coloured capsicum. The deficiency of zeaxanthin is one of the major causes of blindness in ageing adults in developed countries. Her future career aspirations include being in association with UN bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) or the World Food Programme (WFP) to work on the alleviation of hunger and malnutrition problems in the world. She is also involved in outreach programs with Wonder of Science to promote STEM in Queensland schools. In her free time, she likes to dance and travel.

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Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation hosts science seminars across the disciplines of animal, horticulture, crop, food and nutritional sciences. With a range of speakers from Australia and abroad, the series explores how high-impact science will significantly improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the tropical and sub-tropical food, fibre and agribusiness sectors. 

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The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation is a research institute at The University of Queensland supported by the Queensland Government via the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.