@article{Lu2026, 
author = {Fengqin Lu and Zhongyuan Zhang and Yan Li and Dajing Li and Cunshan Zhou and Weiwei He and Yayuan Xu and Cheng Yang and Yongjin Chang and Lianfu Zhang and Atsushi Yamamoto},
title = {Evaluation of synergistic antioxidant interactions of lutein and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and their roles in age-related macular degeneration},
year = {2026},
journal = {Food Science and Human Wellness},
volume = {15},
number = {6},
pages = {9250719},
keywords = {Lutein, Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, Synergistic antioxidant, Age-related macular degeneration, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/FSHW.2025.9250719},
doi = {10.26599/FSHW.2025.9250719},
abstract = {This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lutein (LUT) combined with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Three complementary models were used to investigate the antioxidant effects, including free radical scavenging models, a cell model, and a mouse gavage assay. The results revealed that LUT combined with C3G at molar ratios ranging from 1:2 to 1:5 exhibited synergistic antioxidant effects in vitro. Compared with LUT/C3G alone, LUT:C3G (1:5) increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities by 50.22%, 33.73% and 86.21%, 30.77%, respectively, increased glutathione (GSH) levels by 79.31% and 36.82%, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by 50.04% and 31.11%. The combination treatment increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and decreased the level of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Furthermore, Nrf2 knockdown in ARPE-19 cells significantly inhibited combination treatment-induced Nrf2 protein expression and nuclear translocation, as well as HO-1 and NQO1 expression. A mouse model of AMD demonstrated that LUT combined with C3G activated the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signalling pathway, thereby preventing retinal oxidative stress.}
}