Scavenging Capacity of Marine Carotenoids against Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in a Membrane-Mimicking System

Abstract

Carotenoid intake has been associated with the decrease of the incidence of some chronic diseases by minimizing the in vivo oxidative damages induced by reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). The carotenoids are well-known singlet oxygen quenchers; however, their capacity to scavenge other reactive species, such as peroxyl radical (ROO•), hydroxyl radical (HO•), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and anion peroxynitrite (ONOO−), still needs to be more extensively studied, especially using membrane-mimicking systems, such as liposomes. Moreover, the identification of carotenoids possessing high antioxidant capacity can lead to new alternatives of drugs or nutritional supplements for prophylaxis or therapy of pathological conditions related to oxidative damages, such as cardiovascular diseases. The capacity to scavenge ROO•, HO•, HOCl and ONOO− of seven carotenoids found in marine organisms was determined in liposomes based on the fluorescence loss of a fluorescent lipid (C11-BODIPY581/591) due to its oxidation by these reactive species. The carotenoid-bearing hydroxyl groups were generally more potent ROS scavengers than the carotenes, whilst β-carotene was the most efficient ONOO− scavenger. The role of astaxanthin as an antioxidant should be highlighted, since it was a more potent scavenger of ROO•, HOCl and ONOO− than α-tocopherol.

Research Progress of Astaxanthin on Contrast agent induced acute kidney injury

“…ATX is well documented to have antioxidative activity as a scavenger of free radicals and a quencher of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [11][12][13] . The finding that spin trapping of ROS species by carotenoids, increases with increasing carotenoid oxidation potential 14 .…”

Seaweed Carotenoid, Fucoxanthin, as Functional Food

“…It has also been studied for its anticancer, anti-type 2 diabetes, antiobesity, anticholesterol, anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, antimalarial, and antihypertensive activities, and for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (Gammone and d'Orazio 2015;Hosokawa et al 1999;Ikeda et al 2003;Kawee-ai et al 2013;Kim 2011a;Kotake-Nara et al 2001;Maeda et al 2007;Rodrigues et al 2012;Shiratori et al 2005;Sivagnanam et al 2015).…”

Astaxanthin synthesis by Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous DSM 5626 and its astaxanthin overproducing mutants on xylose media under diferent illumination

“…Due to its unique chemical structure: polarnonpolar-polar, astaxanthin can react with phospholipid head groups or water in the aqueous environment, quenching radicals from the surface of or inside the lipid bilayer of cell membrane [Pashkow et al 2008]. It protects membrane phospholipids and other lipids against peroxidation more effectively than β-carotene and lutein [McNulty et al 2007] and shows higher scavenging capacity against peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals than that of α-tocopherol, lutein, lycopene and β-carotene [Rodrigues et al 2012]. However, some literature data indicate that the antioxidant effect of astaxanthin depends on the adopted experimental model [Gramza-Michałowska and Stachowiak 2010].…”