Cytoprotective role of astaxanthin against glycated protein/iron chelate‐induced toxicity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Astaxanthin (ASX), a red carotenoid pigment with no pro‐vitamin A activity, is a biological antioxidant that occurs naturally in a wide variety of plants, algae and seafoods. This study investigated whether ASX could inhibit glycated protein/iron chelate‐induced toxicity in human umbilical‐vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by interfering with ROS generation in these cells. Glycated fetal bovine serum (GFBS) was prepared by incubating fetal bovine serum (FBS) with high‐concentration glucose. Stimulation of cultured HUVECs with 50 mm 1 mL of GFBS significantly enhanced lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities and levels of phase II enzymes. However, preincubation of the cultures with ASX resulted in a marked decrease in the level of lipid peroxide (LPO) and an increase in the levels of antioxidant enzymes in an ASX concentration‐dependent manner. These results demonstrate that ASX could inhibit LPO formation and enhance the antioxidant enzyme status in GFBS/iron chelate‐exposed endothelial cells by suppressing ROS generation, thereby limiting the effects of the AGE–RAGE interaction. The results indicate that ASX could have a beneficial role against glycated protein/iron chelate‐induced toxicity by preventing lipid and protein oxidation and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

天然虾青素软胶囊对人体抗氧化功能试验研究

[目的]探讨天然虾青素软胶囊对人体的抗氧化作用。[方法]将106例年龄在45～65岁之间的健康志愿者按血清丙二醛含量随机分为受试组和对照组,受试组连续服用受试物90d。测定血清中丙二醛(MDA)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)活性和安全性指标。[结果]试食后受试组MDA含量明显下降,自身前后比较差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01),下降率为3.25%;SOD活性明显升高,自身前后比较差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01),升高率为4.59%;GSH-PX活性明显升高,自身前后比较差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01),升高率为5.54%。各项安全性指标试验前后均无明显改变。[结论]天然虾青素软胶囊对人体具有抗氧化作用。     

虾青素对小鼠急性乙醇肝损伤的保护作用

目的:研究虾青素对乙醇所致小鼠急性化学性肝损伤的保护作用。方法:雄性小鼠60只,随机分为正常对照组、急性乙醇肝损伤模型组、联苯双酯阳性对照组(15 mg/kg)以及虾青素低、中、高剂量组(10,15,20 mg/kg)共6组。测定并比较各组小鼠肝脏系数,血清中丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-px)活性与丙二醛(MDA)含量;测定肝组织中SOD,GSH-px活性,MDA含量以及组织病理系数。结果:各剂量虾青素均能升高急性乙醇肝损伤小鼠血清与肝组织中SOD,GSH-px活性(P<0.01),降低血清ALT,AST活性(P<0.01),降低血清与肝组织MDA含量(P<0.01),并能不同程度地改善肝脏病理组织损伤。结论:虾青素对乙醇所致急性肝损伤具有预防性保护作用。     

Neuroprotective Effects of Astaxanthin in Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation in SH-SY5Y Cells and Global Cerebral Ischemia in Rat

Astaxanthin (ATX), a naturally occurring carotenoid pigment, is a powerful biological antioxidant. In the present study, we investigated whether ATX pharmacologically offers neuroprotection against oxidative stress by cerebral ischemia. We found that the neuroprotective efficacy of ATX at the dose of 30 mg/kg (n = 8) was 59.5% compared with the control group (n = 3). In order to make clear the mechanism of ATX neuroprotection, the up-regulation inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) together with the oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) in SH-SY5Y cells were also investigated. The induction of various factors involved in oxidative stress processes such as iNOS was suppressed by the treatment of ATX at 25 and 50 µM after OGD-induced oxidative stress. In addition, Western blots showed that ATX elevated of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1; Hsp32) and Hsp70 protein levels in in vitro. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of ATX were related to anti-oxidant activities in global ischemia.     

虾青素激活Nrf2/HO-1通路对蓝光损伤视锥细胞的保护作用

目的 探究虾青素对蓝光诱导的小鼠视锥细胞(661W)氧化损伤的保护作用.方法 将661W细胞分成3组:正常组、蓝光组、虾青素干预组.虾青素干预组细胞予以15μmol·L-1虾青素溶液预处理24 h,其余2组不干预;24 h后,将虾青素干预组与蓝光组的细胞暴露于波长为450 nm的短波蓝光中6h,正常组细胞常规培养;12...     

Disodium Disuccinate Astaxanthin (CardaxTM): Antioxidant and Antiinflammatory Cardioprotection

Disodium disuccinate astaxanthin (Cardax^TM, DDA) has cardioprotective effects in the rat, rabbit, and canine models of experimental infarction. It is highly effective by parenteral administration in subchronic and acute dosing regimens. Unpublished data in rats suggest that oral cardioprotection is also readily achievable. DDA‐induced myocardial salvage in the canine can reach 100% with a 4‐day subchronic dosing regimen. At a single i.v. dose DDA is cardioprotective, when given 2 h before experimental coronary occlusion, but the protection is on the average two‐thirds of that achieved with the subchronic regimen in dogs. In conscious animals DDA has no effects on hemodynamic parameters. The primary mechanism of cardioprotection appears to be antioxidant activity involving direct scavenging of superoxide anion, the lynchpin radical in ischemia‐reperfusion injury. In addition, modulation of serum complement activity, as well as the reduction in the levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP) and the membrane attack complex (MAC) in infarcted tissue suggest a significant antiinflammatory component in the mechanism of cardioprotective action of DDA. Stoichiometric binding of the meso‐form of the compound to human serum albumin (HSA) has been demonstrated in vitro. This binding capacity overcomes the supramolecular assembly of the compound in aqueous solution, which by itself improves the stability and shelf life of aqueous formulations. Non‐esterified astaxanthin readily enters cardiac tissue after either oral or parenteral administration, providing a reservoir of a cardioprotective agent with a significant half‐life due to favorable ADME in mammals. Due to the well‐documented safety profile of non‐esterified astaxanthin in humans, disodium disuccinate astaxanthin may well find clinical utility in cardiovascular indications in humans following successful completion of preclinical and clinical pharmacology and toxicology studies.     

虾青素通过TGF-β1介导的Smads/ERK通路抑制肺纤维化

目的 研究虾青素(astaxanthin,AX)对博莱霉素(bleomycin,BLM)所致SD大鼠肺纤维化的干预作用及机制.方法 SD雄性大鼠32只,体质量(200±20)g,采用随机数字表法分为Sham组(假手术组)、AX组、BLM组和AX+ BLM组.经气道注入5 mg/kg的BLM(BLM组和AX+ BLM组)或生理盐水(Sham组)后,每天灌服虾青素(2 mg/kg)油溶液(AX组和AX+ BLM组)或植物油(BLM组)连续14 d,最后一次给药24 h后取材.检测肺系数,肺组织进行HE染色及Masson染色,显微镜下观察大鼠肺部炎症及纤维化程度;碱水解法检测羟脯氨酸含量;免疫组化法观察肺组织α-SMA蛋白表达情况;酶联免疫夹心法(ELISA)检测血清中TGF-β1水平;Western blot法检测Smad2/3及ERK1/2蛋白.结果 与Sham组及AX组相比,BLM组肺损伤严重,有明显的肺纤维化病灶形成;与BLM组比较,AX+BLM组肺炎症程度及纤维化程度明显减轻(P＜0.01),肺组织胶原蛋白沉积减少,羟脯氨酸含量明显降低(P＜0.01),α-SMA蛋白表达减少,TGF-β1水平也明显降低(P＜0.05),同时Smad2/3蛋白及ERK1/2蛋白磷酸化水平明显下降.结论 虾青素能明显抑制BLM诱导的肺纤维化,其作用机制可能与降低TGF-β1水平,从而下调Smads/ERK通路有关.     

Astaxanthin,a xanthophyll carotenoid,inhibits ultraviolet‐induced apoptosis in keratinocytes

Intra‐cellular reactive nitrogen/oxygen species and apoptosis play important roles in ultraviolet (UV)‐induced inflammatory responses in the skin. Astaxanthin (AST), a xanthophyll carotenoid, exhibits diverse clinical benefits. The protective effects of AST against UV‐induced apoptosis were investigated in the present study. Astaxanthin (5 μm ) caused a significant decrease in the protein content and the mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2, and decreased the release of prostaglandin E2 from HaCaT keratinocytes after UVB (20 mJ/cm²) or UVC (5 mJ/cm²) irradiation. No significant protective effects against UV‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) were observed in AST‐pretreated cells. Astaxanthin caused a significant inhibition of UV‐irradiation‐induced apoptosis, as evidence by a DNA fragmentation assay. Furthermore, we found that the treatment with AST caused a reduction in the UVB‐ or UVC‐induced protein and mRNA expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), IL‐1β and TNF‐α in HaCaT keratinocytes. These results suggest that AST effectively protects against UV‐induced inflammation by decreasing iNOS and COX‐2, and thereby inhibiting the apoptosis of keratinocytes.