Protective effect of Dunaliella bardawil on water-immersion-induced stress in rats.
The functional activity of a natural isomer mixture as compared with synthetic all-trans beta-carotene in rats was investigated in a rat model produced by water-immersion restraint stress. Five-week-old male rats were fed diets supplemented with synthetic all-trans beta-carotene, dry Dunaliella bardawil, and purified natural beta-carotene from D. bardawil at equivalent levels of beta-carotene. After the rats were fed diets containing up to 0.1% beta-carotene for 2 weeks, they were restrained in a wire cage and immersed in a 23 degree C water bath for 20 h. Liver analyses indicated that rats showed higher accumulations of the algal beta-carotene isomer mixture than of the synthetic all-trans beta-carotene. Dunaliella bardawil and purified natural beta-carotene significantly decreased the gastric mucosal lesions. Synthetic beta-carotene did not decrease the lesions. These results suggest that the gastric cytoprotective effect of beta-carotene depends on the amount of beta-carotene accumulated in the body.
Takenaka
H
H
Department of Research and Development, Nikken Sohonsha Corp., Gifu, Japan.
Takahashi
H
H
Hayashi
K
K
Ben-Amotz
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D019207:beta Carotene
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids