Introduction: Ethanol is a clear liquid produced by fermenting sugars, found in alcoholic beverages. Excessive consumption causes poisoning and neurodegeneration in the brain by oxidation. Ethanol metabolism to acetaldehyde and then to acetate produces reactive oxygen species, which increases oxidative stress and reduces antioxidants, leading to mental disorders.
Astaxanthin is a type of fat-soluble carotenoid that has strong antioxidant properties and protective effects. It is produced by algae, plants, and some fungi and bacteria. Astaxanthin acts as an inhibitor of reactive oxygen species and is absorbed by lipoproteins to protect cells and membranes from oxidative damage. It has neuroprotective effects and can cross the blood-brain barrier, making it highly effective in brain disorders.
This research aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of astaxanthin on anxiety-like behaviors and oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex of ethanol model mice.
Methods: 35 male mice were divided into 5 groups (n=7) including control, astaxanthin 20, ethanol, and two treatment groups with astaxanthin 10 and 20 mg/kg. The patient group (ethanol) received 20% ethanol. In the treatment groups, first 20% ethanol and after 2 hours astaxanthin in doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg was prescribed. All prescriptions were done daily for 14 consecutive days. Then all mice were sacrificed and the cortical areas of their brains were extracted for biochemical analysis. Antioxidant parameters including the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in GraphPad Prism and a pairwise comparison of means using Tukey's post-hoc test. Also, P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The results of this research have shown that administration of 20% ethanol significantly decreased the activities of glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.01) and glutathione S-transferase (P < 0.05), and the levels of glutathione levels (P < 0.01) in the cortex of ethanol model mice. This is while the treatment with astaxanthin significantly has improved the activities of glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05) and glutathione S-transferase (P < 0.05), and the levels of glutathione levels (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: In this study, Administering 20% ethanol daily for 14 consecutive days, reduced antioxidant parameters in the cortex of ethanol model mice. Studies showed that ethanol gavage with a concentration of 20 mg/kg increased protein oxidation in the brain and these changes caused oxidative damage in cells and neurological disorders. While, treatment with astaxanthin daily for 14 consecutive days, improved the complications caused by ethanol administration and was effective in increasing the activity of antioxidant parameters. Some previous studies showed that Alzheimer's model rats using astaxanthin powder significantly reduced neurodegeneration. As a result, astaxanthin can be useful as an effective antioxidant against the negative effects of ethanol consumption such as oxidative damage.