The effect of aging on the antioxidative activity of astaxanthin in human aqueous humor

We previously evaluated the antioxidative effects of astaxanthin intake in the aqueous humor by measuring reactive oxygen species-related parameters, including O₂^•− scavenging activity, H₂O₂ level, and total hydroperoxides level. In this study, we analyzed the antioxidative effects of astaxanthin in relation to age in 16 males and 19 females (average age 71.3 and 70.6, respectively) who underwent bilateral cataract surgery on one side before and the other side after astaxanthin intake (6 mg/day for 2 weeks). None of the parameters correlated with age before astaxanthin intake, but only total hydroperoxides level was significantly correlated after the astaxanthin intake (r = 0.4, p<0.05). Total hydroperoxides levels were similar in younger and older patients (<70 vs ≥70 years) before astaxanthin, but decreased significantly more in younger patients (–0.21 ± 0.18 vs –0.05 ± 0.31, p<0.05) after the intake, resulting in significantly different levels (p<0.05). The previously observed decrease in mean total hydroperoxides levels following astaxanthin intake was therefore considered likely to be attributable to a greater response in younger subjects. Given that total hydroperoxides levels reflect general antioxidative status, astaxanthin intake may exert a greater antioxidative effect in younger patients. Further comparative studies involving younger subjects and different astaxanthin doses are needed.     

虾青素对大鼠脊髓损伤后炎症反应的影响

目的:研究虾青素对大鼠脊髓损伤后炎症反应的影响。方法:采用改良Allen法制作脊髓损伤模型, 90只健康成年SD大鼠,随机分为虾青素组、对照组和假手术组。分光光度法检测脊髓损伤后脊髓组织的髓过氧化物酶(MPO)的活性,酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)法检测肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α、白介素(IL)-6、白介素(IL)-1β的含量,免疫组化染色检测脊髓组织MPO、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6的蛋白表达。干湿重法检测脊髓组织的含水量,透射电镜观察脊髓损伤后超微结构的改变并行超微结构评分,BBB评分评估脊髓损伤后的运动功能。结果:(1)对照组在脊髓损伤后脊髓组织中髓过氧化物酶(MPO)的活性和TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β的含量显著高于假手术组(P0.05);虾青素组脊髓组织中上述指标较对照组显著降低(P0.05),但仍显著高于假手术组(P0.05)。(2)对照组脊髓组织中MPO、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β的蛋白表达显著高于假手术组(P0.05);虾青素组脊髓组织中上述指标较对照组显著降低(P0.05),但仍显著高于假手术组(P0.05)。(3)对照组脊髓组织含水量显著高于假手术组(P0.05);虾青素组脊髓组织含水量显著低于对照组(P0.05),但仍高于假手术组。(4)对照组的超微结构评分显著高于假手术组(P0.05);虾青素组的超微结构评分显著低于对照组(P0.05),但仍高于假手术组。(5)对照组大鼠BBB评分显著低于假手术组(P0.05),虾青素组大鼠BBB评分显著高于对照组(P0.05),但仍显著低于假手术组。结论:虾青素能够明显降低脊髓损伤后升高的MPO的活性和TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β的含量,降低脊髓组织中过高的MPO、TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β的蛋白表达,明显减轻脊髓损伤后的炎症反应,减轻脊髓水肿,明显减轻脊髓损伤后的组织病理学改变,改善了脊髓损伤大鼠的运动功能,有效地保护脊髓组织,具有明显的神经保护作用。     

Effects of astaxanthin on biochemical and histopathological parameters related to oxidative stress on testes of rats on high fructose regime

Astaxanthin (ASX) is a xanthophyll family of hydroxycarotenoids which contains several double bonds. It is produced by Haemococcus pluvialis, a microalgae and possesses antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to test whether ASX could protect against oxidative damage in the testicular tissues of rats receiving high fructose. The rats (n = 24) were randomly divided into two main groups: control and fructose (30%, via drinking water) and then each main group either not supplemented or supplemented with ASX (1 mg kg^?1 day^?1, within 0.2 ml olive oil) via oral gavage. Data were subjected to two‐way ANOVA. High fructose consumption tended to increase testis weight and serum testosterone concentration and decreased testicular tissue glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, but did not affect testicular tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Astaxanthin administration increased testosterone, GST and SOD levels and testis weight and decreased MDA concentration. However, ASX administration did not reverse alterations in antioxidant parameters caused by high fructose consumption. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) tended to increase in sertoli cell, spermatid and spermatogonia, but not in spermatocytes and leydig cell in response to high fructose consumption. Astaxanthin administration tended to reverse elevation in iNOS in testis cells. In conclusion, ASX could help alleviate oxidative damage caused by high fructose consumption.     

Lipid profile and glucose changes after supplementation with astaxanthin: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Introduction

Many studies have shown that oral supplementation with astaxanthin may be a novel potential treatment for inflammation and oxidative stress in cardiovascular diseases, but evidence of the effects on lipid profile and glucose is still inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of astaxanthin supplementation on plasma lipid and glucose concentrations.

Material and methods

The search included PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EMBASE (up to November 27, 2014) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of astaxanthin supplementation on lipid profile and glucose levels. Two independent reviewers extracted data on study characteristics, methods and outcomes.

Results

Seven studies meeting inclusion criteria with 280 participants were selected for this meta-analysis; 163 participants were allocated to the astaxanthin supplementation group and 117 to the control group. A random-effect meta-analysis of data from 7 RCTs (10 treatment arms) did not show any significant effect of supplementation with astaxanthin on plasma concentrations of total cholesterol (weighted mean difference (WMD): –1.52 mg/dl, 95% CI: –8.69 to –5.66, p = 0.679), LDL-C (WMD: +1.25 mg/dl, 95% CI: –6.70 to +9.21, p = 0.758), HDL-C (WMD: +1.75 mg/dl, 95% CI: –0.92 to +4.42, p = 0.199), triglycerides (WMD: –4.76 mg/dl, 95% CI: –21.52 to +12.00, p = 0.578), or glucose (WMD: –2.65 mg/dl, 95% CI: –5.84 to +0.54, p = 0.103). All these effect sizes were robust, and omission of any of the included studies did not significantly change the overall estimate.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis of data from 10 RCT arms did not indicate a significant effect of supplementation with astaxanthin on plasma lipid profile, but a slight glucose-lowering effect was observed. Further, well-designed trials are necessary to validate these results.     

Astaxanthin improves cognitive deficits from oxidative stress,nitric oxide synthase and inflammation through upregulation of PI3K/Akt in diabetes rat

Diabetes-induced cognitive deficit (DICD) is a prevalent disease with substantial morbidity and mortality and as a global health problem with serious economic burdens. Astaxanthin (AST) has a good prospect in production of nutritional, medical, and particularly functional health drug. The present study was aimed to study the effect of AST on DICD in diabetes mellitus (DM) rat through suppression of oxidative stress, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) pathway, inflammatory reaction and upregulation of PI3K/Akt. In the study, Morris water maze teat was used to detect the cognitive function of DM rat. Afterwards, we measured the body weight and blood glucose levels of DM rats. Then, oxidative stress, the activities of eNOS and iNOS, and inflammatory factors were analyzed using a commercial kit in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Finally, the caspase-3/9 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt expressions were also checkout with Real Time PCR and immunoblotting, respectively. In this experiment, AST could availably enhance the body weight and reduce blood glucose levels of DM rats. Moreover, AST could observably perfect cognitive function of DM rat. Next, the activities of oxidative stress, nitric oxide synthase and inflammation were distinctly diminution in DM rat, after the treatment of AST. Furthermore, our present results demonstrated that AST had the protective effect on the brain cell of DM rat, decreased the caspase-3/9 expression and promoted the expression of PI3K/Akt in cerebral cortex and hippocampus.     

虾青素改善D-半乳糖致衰大鼠抗氧化功能的研究

目的——研究虾青素对D一半乳糖致老大鼠抗氧化能力的影响。方法一用D一半乳糖注射Wistar雄性大鼠5个月,建立衰老模型。对模型组和药物组肝脏、肾脏、心脏、脑和前列腺等脏器MDA含量、SOD、GSH—Px酶活性进行测定及比较。结果一药物组各脏器MDA含量均比模型组有显著降低(P相似文献   

Development of a carboxymethyl chitosan functionalized nanoemulsion formulation for increasing aqueous solubility,stability and skin permeability of astaxanthin using low-energy method

In this research, firstly astaxanthin (ASX)-loaded nanoemulsions (NEs) were produced using a convenient low-energy emulsion phase inversion method. The optimised ASX-NEs were prepared in the presence of Cremophor^® EL and Labrafil^® M 1944 CS, with a surfactant-to-oil ratio of 4:6. The ASX-NE droplets were spherical with a mean droplet diameter below 100?nm and a small negative surface charge. The system was stable without alteration of mean droplet diameter for three months. Then, the ASX-NE was functionalised with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) through direct CMCS (0.02%) incorporation during the preparation process. The ASX chemical stability and skin permeability increased in the following order: ASX solution control??1. In conclusion, the CMCS-ASX-NE might be a promising delivery vehicle in dermal and transdermal products.     

天然虾青素的稳定性和生物活性研究进展

虾青素是一种主要形成于真菌和微藻,并可富集于动物甲壳和毛发中的天然叶黄素类胡萝卜素,具有强抗氧化性和广泛生物活性.雨生红球藻是目前医药、保健食品及化妆品中天然虾青素的最主要来源.本文对天然虾青素在生产及应用中最关键制约因素-稳定性保持策略的相关研究进行了探讨,总结了虾青素的生物活性研究进展,并对其进一步研究开发方向做了展望和建议.     

Nutraceuticals as potential therapeutic agents for colon cancer: a review

Colon cancer is a world-wide health problem and the second-most dangerous type of cancer, affecting both men and women. The modern diet and lifestyles, with high meat consumption and excessive alcohol use, along with limited physical activity has led to an increasing mortality rate for colon cancer worldwide. As a result, there is a need to develop novel and environmentally benign drug therapies for colon cancer. Currently, nutraceuticals play an increasingly important role in the treatment of various chronic diseases such as colon cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer׳s disease. Nutraceuticals are derived from various natural sources such as medicinal plants, marine organisms, vegetables and fruits. Nutraceuticals have shown the potential to reduce the risk of colon cancer and slow its progression. These dietary substances target different molecular aspects of colon cancer development. Accordingly, this review briefly discusses the medicinal importance of nutraceuticals and their ability to reduce the risk of colorectal carcinogenesis.KEY WORDS: Colon cancer, Nutraceuticals, Therapeutics, Marine organisms, Plant derivativesAbbreviations: ACC, acetyl CoA carboxylase; ACF, aberrant crypt foci; ACL, ATP-citrate lyase; ASTX, astaxanthin; COX-2, cyclooxygenase 2; DHA, decahexaenoic acid; DMH, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine; DR, death receptor; EGCG, epigallocatechingallate; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; FAS, fatty acid synthase; 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil; GADD, growth arrest and DNA damage; HMG-CoA, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl CoA; HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cell; IGF, insulin-like growth factor; IL, interleukin; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; MMP, matrix metallo-proteins; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B; PRAP, prolactin receptor associated protein; TCA, tricarboxylic acid cycle; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; TRAIL, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-induced ligand; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor