Comparative effects of β-carotene and fucoxanthin on retinol deficiency induced oxidative stress in rats

This study aimed at comparing antioxidant potential of fucoxanthin (FUCO) with beta-carotene in relieving lipid peroxidation (Lpx) caused by retinol deficiency (RD) in rats. RD rats (n = 45) were fed a dose of either beta-carotene (0.81 mu mol) or FUCO (0.83 mu mol). Plasma and liver lipid peroxide levels and activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione transferase (GST) were measured for 8 h. Results revealed that RD increased (P < 0.05) Lpx in plasma and liver by 34.3% and 19.4%, while the CAT activity in plasma (89%) and liver microsomes (91%) and GST in liver homogenate (31%) and liver microsomes (30%) were decreased (P < 0.05) compared to control (rats fed basal diet). FUCO suppressed (P < 0.05) the Lpx level by 7-85% (plasma) and 24-72% (liver) as compared to beta-carotene (51-76%, 33-65%) over a period of 8 h. The activity of CAT in plasma and liver microsomes was higher (P < 0.05) in FUCO (90-95%, 85-93%) and beta-carotene (87-96%, 79-91%) groups as compared to RD group. Similarly, the activity of GST in liver and its microsomes was also elevated (P < 0.05) in FUCO (44-51%, 22-51%) and beta-carotene (19-54%, 30-43%) groups as compared to RD group. Results demonstrate that FUCO has greater potential than beta-carotene in modulating Lpx, CAT, GST in plasma and liver of RD rats.