叶黄素对视网膜光损伤的保护作用

Protective role of lutein on light-damage of retina

叶黄素为类胡萝卜素之一,在人体内不能转化为维生素A。人体自身不能合成叶黄素,需要从食物中摄取。叶黄素和玉米黄质共同构成视网膜黄斑色素,是黄斑区唯一存在的两种类胡萝卜色素,能降低视网膜光损伤的程度。叶黄素对视网膜的保护机制主要为:(1)蓝光过滤器的作用,叶黄素对光损伤作用最大的蓝光具有很强的吸收作用;(2)抗氧化作用;叶黄素可以灭活单线态氧和捕获活性氧自由基。

Lutein may be a member of the xanthophy Ⅱ of carotenoids. It could be a non-provitamin A xanthophy Ⅱ , which was different from other carotenoids. Lutein and zeaxanthin composed the macular pigments, which were found in the retina. The protective mechanism of lutein in the retina could possibly be in two important ways： the first function could relate to filtering blue light, and the second could consider to be the antioxidative activity that could quench and scavenge reactive oxygen species（ROS） induced by light. The structure and source of lutein, and association between lutein and retina macular pigment, and the role and mechanism of lutein in protecting the retina from light damage were reviewed.