title: Comparative effect of carotenoid complex from Golden Neo-Life Dynamite (GNLD) and carrot extracted carotenoids on immune parameters in albino Wistar rats.
abstract: The immunomodulatory effect of Carotenoid complex from Golden Neo-Life Dynamite (GNLD) and carrot extracted Carotenoid was assessed using 24 albino Wistar rats. The rats were assigned to 4 groups of 6 rats each consisting of group 1(control group treated with distilled water), group 2 (treated with olive oil), group 3 (treated with carrot extract + olive oil) and group 4 (treated with GNLD Carotenoid complex + olive oil). The concentration of carrot extracted Carotenoid and that of the GNLD Carotenoid complex were 559 mg/kg. The animals were sacrificed after 21 days of treatment and whole blood collected for analysis of immune parameters. The parameters included; percentage lymphocytes, percentage eosinophils, percentage monocytes and platelet count. There were significant increases [P < 0.05]; in groups 3 and 4 which received carrot extract and carotenoid complex supplement when compared to group 1 and 2 which received distilled water and olive oil. This supports the claim that carotenoids have immunomodulatory effects. However, there were significant increases [P < 0.05]; in percentage lymphocytes (40.15 +/- 1.33); monocytes (2.50 +/- 1.31);, neutrophils (60.08 +/- 2.06) and platelet count (7.91 +/- 0.53) in group 4 which received carotenoid complex when compared to that of group 3 which received carrot extract; lymphocytes (33.01 +/- 3.20), monocytes (1.52 +/- 0.52), neutrophils (60.12 +/- 1.50) and platelet count (7.81 +/- 0.52). These significant increases[P < 0.05]; show that both carotenoids have immunomodulatory effects; and that the GNLD carotenoid complex which consists of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and alpha-tocopherol is more potent in its immunomodulatory effect compared to the carrot extracted carotenoid which contained mostly alpha-carotene and beta-carotene alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. ekvisa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Ekam
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Udosen
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Chigbu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000737:chemistry*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D002338:Carotenoids