Journal
ANTIOXIDANTS
Volume 6, Issue 4, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/antiox6040080
Keywords
astaxanthin; antioxidant; Haematococcus pluvialis; metal chelation; reactive oxygen species; photo protection; carotenoid; radical cation; proton loss neutral radicals
Funding
- Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences Division, Office of Basic Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy [DEFG02-86ER-13465]
- Natural Science Foundation [CHE-0342921, CHE-0079498]
- Faculty Research Seed Grants (FRSG) Program at Valdosta State University
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The antioxidant astaxanthin is known to accumulate in Haematococcus pluvialis algae under unfavorable environmental conditions for normal cell growth. The accumulated astaxanthin functions as a protective agent against oxidative stress damage, and tolerance to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) is greater in astaxanthin-rich cells. The detailed mechanisms of protection have remained elusive, however, our Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), optical and electrochemical studies on carotenoids suggest that astaxanthin's efficiency as a protective agent could be related to its ability to form chelate complexes with metals and to be esterified, its inability to aggregate in the ester form, its high oxidation potential and the ability to form proton loss neutral radicals under high illumination in the presence of metal ions. The neutral radical species formed by deprotonation of the radical cations can be very effective quenchers of the excited states of chlorophyll under high irradiation.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available