Protective Effects of Astaxanthin Supplementation against Ultraviolet-Induced Photoaging in Hairless Mice

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) induces skin photoaging, which is characterized by thickening, wrinkling, pigmentation, and dryness. Astaxanthin, a ketocarotenoid from Haematococcus pluvialis, has been extensively studied with respect to its possible effect on skin health as well as UV protection. In addition, astaxanthin attenuates increases in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and capillary regression of skeletal muscle. In the present study, we investigated whether astaxanthin would protect UV-induced photoaging and capillary regression in the skin of HR-1 hairless mice. UV induces wrinkle formation, thickness and capillary regression in dermis of hairless mice and the administration of astaxanthin decreased the UV-induced wrinkle formation, skin thickness, and increase in collagen fibers in skin. Astaxanthin supplementation also inhibited the levels of ROS generation and attenuated the decreases in wrinkle formation, thickness and capillary number in the skin. We also found an inverse correlation between wrinkling and capillary number, and the photoaging associated with capillary regression in skin. These results suggest that astaxanthin can protect against photoaging caused by ultraviolet irradiation and the effects of astaxanthin in photoaging inhibition may be associated with the protection of capillary regression in skin.

Dietary supplementation with natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis improves antioxidant enzyme activity, free radical scavenging ability, and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in laying hens

“…Astaxanthin is found in marine life, such as H. pluvialis , phytoplankton, shellfish, shrimp, and crabs ( Thana et al., 2008 ; Gassel, 2011 ; Li et al., 2020 ). Of these, H. pluvialis contains the most natural ASTA and the content of ASTA is reported to reach 500 mg/g of stem cell weight ( Kobayashi, 2003 ).…”

From Sea to Skin: Is There a Future for Natural Photoprotectants?

“…Astaxanthin, especially, has been tested in in vivo studies and clinical trials. Indeed, the application of a liposomal preparation of astaxanthin on the dorsal skin of Hos:HR-1 hairless mice prevented wrinkle formation induced by UV exposure [ 121 ] and its effects were confirmed by additional studies on animal models [ 122 , 123 ]. Moreover, astaxanthin supplementation in humans significantly increased their minimal erythema dose [ 124 ], defined as “the smallest UV dose that produces perceptible redness of the skin (erythema) with clearly defined borders at 16 to 24 h after UV exposure”, and different other clinical trials highlighted the prevention and curing abilities of astaxanthin against photoaging [ 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 ].…”

Physicochemical characterization of astaxanthin-loaded PLGA formulation via nanoprecipitation technique

“…Another condition that is usually caused by the excessive production of free radicals is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the discrepancy between free radical development and the body's antioxidant defense capacity (Lobo et al, 2010). Although the human body system is capable of generating its own antioxidants to fight against free radicals, the production will plunge as the human body ages.…”

“…These are some of the substance's distinctive features owing to the presence of hydroxyl (OH) and ketone group (C=O) on its ionone ring (Meor Mohd Affandi et al, 2011). Numerous reports have illustrated various medicinal potentials of astaxanthin such as chemopreventive effects, anti-inflammatory properties, skin protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet, and the reduction in age-related macular degeneration (Ito et al, 2018;Kavitha et al, 2013;Li et al, 2020;Yasui et al, 2011). Astaxanthin is strongly lipophilic and has poor oral bioavailability, despite being a potent antioxidant, similar to other carotenoids (Yang et al, 2020).…”