Nitration reaction of lutein with peroxynitrite

The in vitro reactivity of lutein toward peroxynitrite was investigated, and the reaction products produced by scavenging with peroxynitrite were analyzed. A novel lutein-6H-1,2-oxazine (1) along with 14-s-cis-15-nitirolutein (2) and 14'-s-cis-15'-nitrolutein (3) was isolated from the products of the reaction of lutein with peroxynitrite. These results indicate that lutein is able to capture peroxynitrite and nitrogen dioxide radicals from their molecules to form oxazine or nitrocarotenoids. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.