Astaxanthin and canthaxanthin are potent antioxidants in a membrane model.
When the conjugated keto-carotenoids, either astaxanthin or canthaxanthin, are added to rat liver microsomes undergoing radical-initiated lipid peroxidation under air, they are as effective as alpha-tocopherol in inhibiting this process. This contrasts with the effect of beta-carotene, which is a much less potent antioxidant when added in this system, without the addition of other antioxidants.
Palozza
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Department of Biochemistry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-1837.
Krinsky
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NI
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016644:Canthaxanthin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000975:Antioxidants; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D016644:Canthaxanthin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D009249:NADP; C005948:astaxanthine