Open AccessReactive oxygen species scavenging activities in a chemiluminescence model and neuroprotection in rat pheochromocytoma cells by astaxanthin, beta‐carotene, and canthaxanthin
Author(s) -
Chang ChiSen,
Chang ChiaLin,
Lai GuiaHung
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/j.kjms.2012.12.002
Subject(s) - astaxanthin , canthaxanthin , antioxidant , superoxide , reactive oxygen species , carotenoid , neuroprotection , biochemistry , medicine , chemistry , pharmacology , enzyme
The objective of this study was to determine chemiluminescence (CL) antioxidant activities and neuroprotective effects of astaxanthin, beta‐carotene (β‐carotene), and canthaxanthin on undifferentiated rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. We performed three CL antioxidant assays, and the three carotenoids showed varying degrees of antioxidant activity, with astaxanthin exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity than the other two samples. Results of a pyrogallol–luminol assay revealed β‐carotene to have higher antioxidant activity than canthaxanthin, whereas cupric sulfate–Phen–Vc–hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) assay showed canthaxanthin to have higher antioxidant activity than β‐carotene. Luminol–H 2 O 2 assay showed the antioxidant activity series as canthaxanthin > β‐carotene at 62.5–1000 μg/mL and β‐carotene > canthaxanthin at 1000–4000 μg/mL. Astaxanthin exhibited partial neuroprotective activity against H 2 O 2 and the strongest neuroprotective activity against amyloid beta‐peptide (25–35) [(Aβ) (25–35) ]‐induced undifferentiated PC12 cell deaths at 0.5–5.0 μM. Canthaxanthin showed partial neuroprotective activity in Aβ (25–35) ‐induced undifferentiated PC12 cell deaths at 1.0–5.0 μM. Astaxanthin protected undifferentiated PC12 cells from the damaging effects of H 2 O 2 and Aβ (25–35) by the following ways: (1) scavenging superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and H 2 O 2 ; (2) securing cell viability; (3) suppressing the production of reactive oxygen species; and (4) eliminating calcium ion influx. Our results conclusively show that astaxanthin has the merit as a potential neuron protectant.