SUMMARY. Using Comet assay the features of astaxanthin impact (20 µg/ml) in the culture of human blood lymphocytes exposed to gamma quanta (1.0 Gy) in G0, S, and G2 phases of the mitotic cycle were studied. Decrease the level of DNA damages (Tail Moment index) under astaxanthin exposure on lymphocytes irradiated in all stages of cell division was established, while as a result of our previous cytogenetic investigations lack the modifying action of astaxanthin after irradiation of cells in G2 stage and radioprotective effect in the G0 stage of the mitotic cycle was revealed. In G0 phase the activation by astaxanthin the processes of apoptosis in irradiated cells with high levels of genomic damages was found. The data obtained demonstrate that astaxanthin has a powerful radioprotective potential, mainly due to its apoptogenic properties.
Keywords: culture of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, gamma-irradiation, astaxanthin, Comet assay, DNA injuries, apoptosis