Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Astaxanthin on Gastrointestinal Diseases

Abstract

A moderate amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is produced under normal conditions, where they play an important role in cell signaling and are involved in many aspects of the immune response to pathogens. On the other hand, the excessive production of ROS destructs macromolecules, cell membranes, and DNA, and activates pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, which may lead to various pathologic conditions. Gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa is constantly exposed to ROS due to the presence of bacteria and other infectious pathogens in food, as well as alcohol consumption, smoking, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Prolonged excessive oxidative stress and inflammation are two major risk factors for GI disorders such as ulcers and cancers. Bioactive food compounds with potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity have been tested in experimental GI disease models to evaluate their therapeutic potential. Astaxanthin (AST) is a fat-soluble xanthophyll carotenoid that is naturally present in algae, yeast, salmon, shrimp, and krill. It has been shown that AST exhibits protective effects against GI diseases via multiple mechanisms. Residing at the surface and inside of cell membranes, AST directly neutralizes ROS and lipid peroxyl radicals, enhances the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes, and suppresses pro-inflammatory transcription factors and cytokines. In addition, AST has been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth and metastasis via modulating cell proliferation-related pathways, apoptosis, and autophagy. Considering the potential benefits of AST in GI diseases, this review paper aims to summarize recent advances in AST research, focusing on its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against gastric and intestinal ulcers and cancers.

The impact of oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction on diabetic microvascular complications

“…Endogenous factors such as metabolic factors, mitochondrial damage, immune system dysregulation, and inflammatory products induce the production of ROS (29)(30)(31)(32). Exogenous ionizing radiation, xenobiotics, ultraviolet light, alcohol abuse and smoking contribute to the onset and progression of aging and metabolic disease by promoting ROS production in the body (33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38) (Figure 1). O+GSSG, all of which complete the antioxidant scavenging process and constitute the antioxidant enzymatic response system of the organism, maintaining the intracellular redox balance (41,42).…”

“…Endogenous factors such as metabolic factors, mitochondrial damage, immune system dysregulation, and inflammatory products induce the production of ROS ( 29 – 32 ). Exogenous ionizing radiation, xenobiotics, ultraviolet light, alcohol abuse and smoking contribute to the onset and progression of aging and metabolic disease by promoting ROS production in the body ( 33 – 38 ) ( Figure 1 ).…”

Oral Delivery of Astaxanthin via Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Modified Nanoparticles for Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

“…Interestingly, after oral administration of AXT and CMC-AXT-NPs, the symptoms of colonic shortening were reversed, and the length of the colon tissue increased to 3.9 cm and 4.7 cm, respectively ( Figure 4 E). These beneficial effects were mostly due to the potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of AST [ 47 , 48 ]. However, due to the poor water solubility and gastrointestinal stability of AXT, the potential biological activities were always unsatisfactory, even when taken in large doses through oral delivery [ 35 , 49 , 50 ].…”

pH-Dependent Behavior of Novel 5-FU Delivery System in Environmental Conditions Comparable to the Gastro-Intestinal Tract

“…It has been demonstrated [ 29 ] that astaxanthin’s exhibited protective role in colon cancer is induced in animal models, although the involved mechanism still needs elucidation [ 29 ]. Moreover, a recent review [ 30 ] highlighted the astaxanthin anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against gastro-intestinal disorders including cancer.…”