title: Zeaxanthin in combination with ascorbic acid or alpha-tocopherol protects ARPE-19 cells against photosensitized peroxidation of lipids.
abstract: The antioxidant action of carotenoids is believed to involve quenching of singlet oxygen and scavenging of reactive oxygen radicals. However, the exact mechanism by which carotenoids protect cells against oxidative damage, particularly in the presence of other antioxidants, remains to be elucidated. This study was carried out to examine the ability of exogenous zeaxanthin alone and in combination with vitamin E or C, to protect cultured human retinal pigment epithelium cells against oxidative stress. The survival of ARPE-19 cells, subjected to merocyanine 540-mediated photodynamic action, was determined by the MTT test and the content of lipid hydroperoxides in photosensitized cells was analyzed by HPLC with electrochemical detection. We found that zeaxanthin-supplemented cells, in the presence of either alpha-tocopherol or ascorbic acid, were significantly more resistant to photoinduced oxidative stress. Cells with added antioxidants exhibited increased viability and accumulated less lipid hydroperoxides than cells without the antioxidant supplementation. Such a synergistic action of zeaxanthin and vitamin E or C indicates the importance of the antioxidant interaction in efficient protection of cell membranes against oxidative damage induced by photosensitized reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wrona
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rózanowska
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sarna
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001681:Biological Assay; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010777:Photochemistry; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; C003954:merocyanine dye; D007501:Iron; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid