Figure 1.

Diagram showing general strategy used during the project. Frozen homogenates from six carrot varieties (Bolero, Presto, Deep Purple, Karotan, Kintoki and Blanche des Vosges) grown in (i) standard conditions (control), (ii) water-restricted condition (hydric stress), (iii) A. dauci inoculation (biotic stress), or (iv) water restricted and A. dauci inoculation combined conditions (combined stresses) were solubilized in either ethanol or DMSO. Each extracts were tested at two different concentrations on the function of vascular (endothelial and smooth muscle cells), metabolic (hepatocytes and adipocytes), and immune (macrophages) cells. The ability of extracts to counteract oxidative stress in vascular and metabolic cell models was assessed; as well as their capacity to prevent apoptosis and to modulate proliferation of endothelial, smooth muscle cells and hepatocytes. Extract ability to modify lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and adipocytes as well as pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in macrophages was evaluated. In parallel the phytochemical analysis of carotenoid, polyphenol and sugar content of extracts was performed.