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

This study aimed at comparing antioxidant
potential of fucoxanthin (FUCO) with b-carotene in
relieving lipid peroxidation (Lpx) caused by retinol deficiency
(RD) in rats. RD rats (n = 45) were fed a dose of
either b-carotene (0.81 lmol) or FUCO (0.83 lmol).
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 b-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 b-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 b-carotene
(19–54%, 30–43%) groups as compared to RD
group. Results demonstrate that FUCO has greater potential
than b-carotene in modulating Lpx, CAT, GST in
plasma and liver of RD rats.