The Suppressive Effect of a Marine Carotenoid, Fucoxanthin, on Mouse Ear Swelling through Regulation of Activities and mRNA Expression of Inflammation-associated Enzymes.

The anti-inflammatory effects of fucoxanthin (Fx) were investigated in vivo and in vitro. When mouse ear swelling was induced by three sensitizers, arachidonic acid, 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and oxazolone, both percutaneous and oral administration of 150 nmol/mouse of Fx suppressed the effects, similar to a typical natural inhibitor, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The inhibitory effects of Fx, and its metabolite fucoxanthinol (Fxoi), on inflammation-related enzymatic activities Iphospholipase A2 (PLA₂), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, lipoxygenase, and hyaluronidase (HA)i were evaluated to elucidate the mechanism of suppression of mouse ear swelling. Both Fx and Fxoi inhibited PLA₂, COX-2, and HA activities to a greater extent than EGCG. Moreover, they suppressed mRNA expressions of PLA, and COX-2 in rat basophilic leukemia-2H3 cells. These results suggest that the suppressive effects of Fx and Fxoi on mouse ear swelling were due to the inhibition of enzymatic activities and mRNA expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]