Protective Effects of Fucoxanthin on Ultraviolet B-Induced Corneal Denervation and Inflammatory Pain in a Rat Model

Abstract

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid with many pharmaceutical properties that is found in brown seaweed. However, the effects of fucoxanthin on corneal innervation and intense eye pain have not been extensively examined. To clarify the protective roles and underlying mechanisms of fucoxanthin on ocular lesions, we investigated the beneficial effects and mechanisms by which fucoxanthin ameliorates ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced corneal denervation and trigeminal pain. Treatment with fucoxanthin enhanced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in the cornea. Inhibition of typical denervation and epithelial exfoliation in the cornea were observed in rats treated with fucoxanthin following UVB-induced nerve disorders. Moreover, the active phosphorylated form of p38 MAP kinase (pp38) and the number of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive neural cells were significantly reduced. Decreased expression of neuron-selective transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) in the trigeminal ganglia neurons was also demonstrated in rats treated with fucoxanthin after UVB-induced keratitis. Symptoms of inflammatory pain, including difficulty in opening the eyes and eye wipe behaviour, were also reduced in fucoxanthin-treated groups. Pre-treatment with fucoxanthin may protect the eyes from denervation and inhibit trigeminal pain in UVB-induced photokeratitis models.

Nutraceutical characteristics of the brown seaweed carotenoid fucoxanthin

“…The levels of inflammatory markers such as IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX-2 were downregulated in an obese mouse model [138]. The protective effect of fucoxanthin was further described in UV-induced inflammation in cellular [139] and animal [140] models. Fx has also been reported exhibit anti-hypertensive properties.…”

Fucoxanthin—An Antibacterial Carotenoid

“…It has recently been shown that fucoxanthin exhibits a lot of biological properties, including a protective activity against oxidative stress. It was presented that fucoxanthin prevents the cytotoxic effect of the oxidative agent in a dose-dependent manner and had a protective effect against UV-B radiation and DNA damaging factors [10,16,17,18,19]. This compound additionally affected the lipid metabolism and possesses anti-obesity and anti-diabetic activities [11,20,21].…”

Cytoprotective Potential of Fucoxanthin in Oxidative Stress-Induced Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Senescence In Vivo and In Vitro

“…The biological activities of fucoxanthin have been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antimicrobial effects in various tissues and cells, as tested by in vitro or in vivo experiments [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. We demonstrated that pretreatment with fucoxanthin inhibited the ultraviolet B-induced corneal inflammatory pain and thinning of the corneal epithelial layer [ 29 , 30 ]. Due to the necessary functions that keep photoreceptors healthy, the RPE is critical for maintaining eye vision; however, the effects of fucoxanthin have not been extensively examined on oxidative stress-induced AMD and premature senescence.…”