Antiangiogenic properties of carotenoids: A potential role of maize as functional food

Several human disorders are associated with neovascularization. The current in vivo study examines the effect in the blood vessel formation of a xanthophyll-rich seed extract of maize. The angiostatic effects of treatment with maize seed carotenoid extract (0.1-10 mu M of zeaxanthin equivalent/implant) were evaluated in the chick yolk sac membrane (YSM) (12-50% inhibition, P < 0.05) as well as in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay (23-52% inhibition, P < 0.05) as compared to control group. A similar inhibitory action was found by treatments with the retinoic acid (10 mu M/embryo, 49% and 57% inhibition) and commercial lutein (10 mu M/embryo, 65% and 55% inhibition) (positive controls) performed in the YSM and CAM, respectively. Results point to maize seeds as interesting sources of xanthophylls which effectively inhibited the process of vessel formation, suggesting a potential role of such compounds in the prevention of diseases associated with vascular dysfunction. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.