Fucoxanthin is a natural carotenoid obtained from seaweed which exhibits antioxidant properties. This research aimed to assess whether fucoxanthin, immobilized on aluminum-silicon carrier particles, has a toxic effect on immune cells. The viability, proliferation, nitric oxide production and myeloperoxidase activity of thymocytes and splenocytes of mice in vitro were studied. It was shown that fucoxanthin, immobilized on aluminum-silicon carrier particles, increased the survival rate and proliferation of mature immunocytes (splenocytes) after 24 hours exposure and increased the survival rate of naïve immunocytes (thymocytes) when exposed for 120 hours. In terms of myeloperoxidase, the activity of the immune cells was not affected by fucoxanthin immobilized on the carrier particles. The obtained results indicated that fucoxanthin, immobilized on particles of an aluminum-silicon carrier, did not have a toxic effect on mouse immunocytes.
Keywords: Cylindrotheca closterium, fucoxanthin, γ-aluminum oxide, polydimethylsiloxane, thymocytes, splenocytes, viability, proliferation, nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase activity