Protective effect of astaxanthin on paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in mice

AIM To study the protective effect of astaxanthin on paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in mice.METHODS Forty mice were randomly divided into normal control group,model group,astaxanthin low,medium and high-dose(50,125,and 250 mg.kg-1) groups,with eight mice in each group.Mice in astaxanthin low,medium and high-dose groups were administered with astaxanthin for 7 d consecutively.After 7 days,all the mice were then intraperitoneally given paracetamol at a dose of 400 mg.kg-1.The levels of ALT,AST in serum and MDA,SOD,GSH-PX in hepatic tissue were measured.RESULTS Compared with the model group,in the astaxanthin groups,the levels of ALT,AST in serum were decreased significantly(P 0.01),the level of MDA was decreased while activities of SOD and GSH-PX were increased in hepatic tissue(P 0.01).CONCLUSION Astaxanthin has good protective effect on paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in mice.Eliminating free radical,repairing damaged cell membrane and enhancing defense enzyme activities in mice may be the mechanism of action of astaxanthin.