title: Inhibition of oxidative injury of biological membranes by astaxanthin.
abstract: The value of astaxanthin, a carotenoid pigment, in the treatment of oxidative injury is assessed. Astaxanthin protects the mitochondria of vitamin E-deficient rats from damage by Fe2(+)-catalyzed lipid peroxidation both in vivo and in vitro. The inhibitory effect of astaxanthin on mitochondrial lipid peroxidation is stronger than that of alpha-tocopherol. Thin layer chromatographic analysis shows that the change in phospholipid components of erythrocytes from vitamin E-deficient rats induced by Fe2+ and Fe3(+)-xanthine/xanthine oxidase system was significantly suppressed by astaxanthin. Carrageenan-induced inflammation of the paw is also significantly inhibited by administration of astaxanthin. These data indicate that astaxanthin functions as a potent antioxidant both in vivo and in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Kochi Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurashige
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okimasu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Utsumi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; C005948:astaxanthine; D007501:Iron