Effects of Pigment Extracts from Purple Carrot (Daucus carota, L.) on the Reactions in Mice Subjected to Restraint Stress

We investigated the effects of carotenoid and/or anthocyanin pigment extracts from purple carrot on the reactions induced by restraint stress in mice. Purple carrot contained beta-, alpha-carotene, and phytoene as carotenoid compounds, and five anthocyanin compounds that contained cyanidin as aglycon. Aliquots of carotenoid and/or anthocyanin pigment extracts from purple carrot in an acidic detergent solution (citric acid, Tween 80) were administered intragastrically once per day for three days to mice, after which they were restrained for 24 h. Unrestrained mice were administered acidic Tween solution with or without free access to feed and water. Restraint stress induced elevation in plasma arteriosclerotic index, hepatic total cholesterol and the amount of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TSARS) of plasma and liver tissues in mice. In contrast, these variables were suppressed in the restraint mice that were administered purple carrot pigment extracts. Furthermore, additional effects of carotenoid and anthocyanin pigment extracts on a reduction in hepatic cholesterol level were observed. These results suggest that purple carrot pigment extracts have in vivo anti-stress effects against the reactions induced by immobilization in mice.