Abstract: Objective：To investigate the protective effect of astaxanthin against methamphetamine-induced oxidative damage in rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells. Method: PC-12 cells were randomly divided into control group, methamphetamine group, low dose of astaxanthin (0.1 μmol•L-1)+methamphetamine group, middle dose of astaxanthin (1 μmol•L-1)+methamphetamine group and high dose of astaxanthin (10 μmol•L-1) + methamphetamine group. The protective effect of astaxanthin on the oxidative damage was observed by the cell survival rate, the activity of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the contents of glutathione (GSH) and malonidial aldehyde (MDA). Result: The results showed that astaxanthin enhanced the cell survival rate, significantly increased the activity of SOD and the content of GSH, and decreased the content of MDA. Conclusion: Astaxanthin has significant protective effect on the oxidative damage induced by methamphetamine in PC-12 cells, and the mechanism may be related to anti-oxidative function.

Key words: astaxanthin, methamphetamine, rat pheochromocytoma, oxidative damage, antioxidant