Astaxanthin is a ketone carotenoid, chemically named 3,3′-dihydroxy-4,4′-diketo-β,β′-carotene, red solid powder , fat-soluble, insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents.

It is widely found in the biological world, especially in the feathers of aquatic animals such as shrimps, crabs, fish and birds, where it plays a coloring role.

Like other carotenoids, astaxanthin is a fat-soluble pigment. Its orange-red color is caused by an extended double bond (alternating double bonds and single bonds) in the center of the astaxanthin compound. This ***-yoke double bond chain is also responsible for the antioxidant function of astaxanthin (as well as other carotenoids) because it creates a dispersed electron region that can be donated to reduce reactive oxidizing molecules.

Astaxanthin is a blood-red pigment that is naturally produced in the freshwater microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis and the yeast Xanthomonas.

Astaxanthin is produced when algae are stressed and starved of nutrients, increased salinity, or exposed to too much sunlight. Animals that feed on this algae include: salmon, red trout, black bream (Pagrus major), flamingos and various crustaceans (such as shrimp, krill, crab, lobster and crayfish, etc. The orange-red dyeing effect caused by astaxanthin can be found in marine organisms).

In living crustaceans, astaxanthin combines with β-crustacyanin to produce a slate blue color. When cooked, this combination becomes unstable and astaxanthin is released. The hormone causes crustaceans to turn red.

Astaxanthin is a ketone carotenoid, chemically named 3,3′-dihydroxy-4,4′-diketo-β,β′-carotene, red solid powder , fat-soluble, insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents. It exists widely in the biological world, especially in the feathers of aquatic animals such as shrimps, crabs, fish and birds, where it plays a coloring role.

Applications

1. Antioxidant activity

Astaxanthin has a special structure and will pass through the cell membrane and become a phospholipid structure spanning the cell double layer; The functional groups at both ends can absorb the unpaired electrons of free radicals, easily react with free radicals and effectively reduce free radical activity. In addition to eliminating free radicals, Xue et al. also found that astaxanthin regulates the expression of Nrf2 in skin cells damaged by light.

In addition, the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) ) was significantly increased.

Therefore, astaxanthin exerts important antioxidant activity not only by directly scavenging free radicals, but also by activating antioxidant functions.

2. Anti-inflammation

Inflammation is a normal response of the immune system, but continuous or repeated inflammation can easily cause diseases such as skin damage, pigmentation, and neuropathy. The inhibitory effect of astaxanthin on iNOS production is of great significance for the development of drugs for dermatitis-related diseases (such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis).