Differential Performance of Xanthophylls in Combination with Phenol Classes against H₂O₂‐Induced Oxidative Stress: An In Vitro Analysis Using Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Abstract

ScopeXanthophylls, vital for ocular defense against blue light and reactive oxygen species, are prone to oxidative degradation; however, they may be regenerated antioxidant‐rich plant phenols. Despite certain in vitro evidence, clinical studies show inconsistent findings and this may be due to varying phenolic reduction potentials. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate the ocular protective effect of various plant phenols combined with xanthophyll.Methods and resultsHuman retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE‐19) are subjected to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) after xanthophyll and phenol pretreatment. Assessments include xanthophyll uptake, total antioxidant capacity, cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, apoptosis, phagocytosis, and vascular endothelial growth factor formation. The study finds that while the combination of lutein with phenols does not show significant protective effects compared to lutein‐only, zeaxanthin combined with phenols exhibits enhanced protection compared to both the zeaxanthin‐only and control groups.ConclusionThe research reveals the complex relationship between xanthophylls and phenols, suggesting that the advantageous effects of their combination might vary among different xanthophylls. Caution is necessary when applying molecular theories to ocular health, and this necessitates further research, serving as a basis for proposing clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of specific xanthophyll and phenol combinations.