Astaxanthin Interacts with Selenite and Attenuates Selenite-Induced Cataractogenesis

Abstract

Selenite, the most commonly encountered toxic form of selenium, in overdose, is used to induce cataracts in rats. This study demonstrated that selenite, but not selenate, would interact with the carotenoid astaxanthin (ASTX), as determined using isothermal titration calorimetry and NMR. The maximum absorption of ASTX decreased with increasing selenite concentration, indicating that the conjugated system of ASTX was changed by selenite. Such interactions between ASTX and selenite were also supported by the attenuation of selenite-induced turbidity by ASTX (0-12.5 microM) in vitro. In vivo experiments also showed that ASTX attenuated selenite-induced cataractogenesis in rats. In summary, this is the first report of a direct interaction of ASTX with selenite. This interaction is supported by an in vitro assay and may be partially responsible for the ASTX observed in vivo protection against selenite-induced cataractogenesis.

Effect of Astaxanthin on Cataract Formation Induced by Glucocorticoids in the Chick Embryo

“…This prevention may not be due to an anti-oxidant activity of AST but be due to a direct interaction of AST with selenite. 39 In the present study, administration of AST to a chick embryo model of steroid-induced cataract resulted in a significant suppression of HC-induced lens opacity. Furthermore, treatment with AST also significantly suppressed reduction of the lens glutathione level, suggesting that the effect of AST in suppressing lens opacity involved reduction of oxidative stress.…”

Potential health‐promoting effects of astaxanthin: A high‐value carotenoid mostly from microalgae

“…Liao et al [115] reported that astaxanthin could interact with selenite, whose accumulation in the lens might cause cataract formation directly, and thus could delay seleniteinduced lens crystalline precipitation and attenuate seleniteinduced cataractogenesis in rats. Nakajima et al [116] found that astaxanthin had neuroprotective effects against retinal ganglion cell damage.…”

The Comparative Studies of Binding Activity of Curcumin and Didemethylated Curcumin with Selenite: Hydrogen Bonding vs Acid-Base Interactions

“…The cytotoxicity of selenite has been suggested to be due to the reaction with disulfide peptide or protein 15 17 18 . It is further linked to the protein aggregation disease, for example, cataract 19 20 21 . One hypothesis regarding the beginning of the cataract development suggests that selenium could oxidize the SH groups of ion transporters in the membrane that maintains calcium homeostasis 22 .…”