Characterization of microalgal carotenoids by mass spectrometry and their bioavailability and antioxidant properties elucidated in rat model.
Of the total carotenoids in respective algal samples, beta-carotene in Spirulina platensis was 69.5%, astaxanthin and its esters in Haematococcus pluvialis was 81.38%, and lutein in Botryococcus braunii was 74.6%. The carotenoids were characterized by mass spectrometry. A time-course study of carotenoids in rats after administration of microalgal biomass showed peak levels in plasma, liver, and eyes at 2, 4, and 6 h, respectively. Beta-carotene accumulation in Spirulina-fed rats was maximum in eye tissues at 6 h. Similarly, levels of astaxanthin and lutein in Haematococcus- and Botryococcus-fed rats were also maximal in eye tissues. Astaxanthin from H. pluvialis showed better bioavailability than beta-carotene and lutein. The antioxidant enzymes, catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and TBARS were significantly high in plasma at 2 h and in liver at 4 h, evidently offering protection from free radicals. This study implies that microalgae can be a good source of carotenoids of high bioavailability and nutraceutical value.
Ranga Rao
A
A
Plant Cell Biotechnology Department, Central FoodTechnological Research Institute, A Constituent Laboratory of Council of Scientific & IndustrialResearch, Mysore-570 020, Karnataka, India.
Raghunath Reddy
R L
RL
Baskaran
V
V
Sarada
R
R
Ravishankar
G A
GA
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001682:Biological Availability; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D053545:Spirulina / Q000737:chemistry*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids