Investigation of the physiological and biochemical effectiveness of plasmalogens and astaxanthin in microencapsulated form

• Varuzhan A. Sarkisyan
• Yuliya S. Sidorova
• Nikita A. Petrov
• Yulia V. Frolova
• Alla A. Kochetkova

Abstract

Plasmalogens and astaxanthin have a wide range of biological effects, including pronounced antioxidant properties. One of the main disadvantages of using these biologically active lipids is their low stability, which leads to a decrease in biological activity in vivo. The aim of the work was the study of the physiological and biochemical effectiveness of plasmalogens and astaxanthin in microencapsulated form.

Methods. The experiment was conducted using 70 male Wistar rats during 60 days. The first 28 days of the experiment animals received modified diet with lowered content of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E, via excluding fat-soluble vitamin mixture and sunflower oil from the diet. On the 29^th day of the experiment, the animals were divided into groups. Standard fat-soluble vitamin mixture and sunflower oil were added into the diet of one group (K2 group), two other groups received emulsions, containing plasmalogens (0.80%), astaxanthin (0.04%) and fat-soluble vitamins in native (G3 group) or microcapsulated (G4 group) forms instead of sunflower oil (5.0% of the diet). During the next 32 days of the experiment, the animals’ grip strength was measured; anxiety and motor activity were assessed in the elevated plus maze and open field tests; cognitive functions were assessed in the passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests. In the blood serum, the level of corticosterone, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), malone dialdehyde, hydroperoxides, and total antioxidant activity were determined.

Results. A significant increase in the grip strength in animals treated with an emulsion with encapsulated plasmalogens and astaxanthin indicates animal endurance growth. In the Morris water maze test, animals of the same group showed the best learning ability, which indicates an improvement in cognitive functions. A significant more than 3-fold decrease in blood corticosterone level in the animals treated with plasmalogens and astaxanthin, regardless of the form of administration, in comparison with the indicator of animals in the control groups, indicates an adaptogenic effect and requires further study. The consumption of the emulsions led to a significant improvement in lipid metabolism: a significant decrease in serum cholesterol by 20% was shown, against the background of a significant reduction in LDL cholesterol by 25%.

Conclusion. The beneficial effect of including the experimental emulsion in the diet is expressed in improving memory and cognitive functions, increasing muscle tone and the static component of endurance in male Wistar rats.

Keywords:plasmalogens, astaxanthin, microencapsulation, emulsion, adaptation potential, stress, lipid profile, antioxidant activity

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