Biol. Pharm. Bull. 29(8) 1764—1766 (2006)

etables such as spinach and kale. It has a structure similar to that of beta-carotene, which is the forerunner material of vitamin A. Vitamin C and vitamin E have received much attention recently due to their antioxidant activities. It has been reported that lutein modulates cellular oxidative status. Since lutein has maximum absorption at 445 nm, it can act as a blue-light filter (400—460 nm). It is well known that carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, are macular pigments that are located in the macula lutea, yellow spots, between incoming photons and photoreceptors. Since yellow spots contribute to eyesight, the lack of the macular pigments bring age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Lutein has been shown to play an important role in the prevention of ARMD, cataract and other blinding disorders. It has been reported that lutein improves visual function in ARMD patients, according to the results of the randomized, doublemasked Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial (LAST). Recently, it has been revealed that reactive oxygen is responsible for ARMD. The protective effects of the carotenoids on ARMD have been extensively studied. Besides ARMD, it has been shown that oxygen free radicals contribute to the development of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries, cataract, glaucoma and cancer. In this study, we focused on the protective effect of lutein on intestinal I/R injury. Since a large amount of oxygen flows in tissue at reperfusion, reactive oxygen is thought to play a major role in I/R failure. Reactive oxygen participated in the I/R failure have received attention. It has been shown that oxidation can be prevented by pretreatment with an antioxidant such as allopurinol or N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier predisposes to extraluminal egress of potentially harmful bacteria and/or their toxins. Attention has been focused on the role of the gastrointestinal tract as a source of pathogens that may cross a disrupted mucosal barrier initiating a septic process and perpetuating multiorgan failure. The present study was undertaken to clarify the protective effect of lutein on I/R injury of rat small intestine. MATERIALS AND METHODS