Haematococcus pluvialis is a freshwater unicellular green alga. This alga can accumulate a large amount of astaxanthin, thus showing a red color, and it gets the name "red ball alga". After the research and development of Spirulina and Chlorella, Haematococcus pluvialis is another economically valuable microalga rich in nutritional and medicinal value. Its main active ingredients include astaxanthin, polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids. In 2010, it was approved as a new resource food in China. Haematococcus pluvialis is recognized as the best natural source of astaxanthin in nature, and its astaxanthin content accounts for about 2.7% - 3.8% of the dry weight of the cells.
Astaxanthin is a ketonic secondary carotenoid. Its molecule is composed of two β - ionone rings connected by a polyene chain, with the molecular formula of C₄₀H₅₂O₄ and a relative molecular mass of 596.84. The astaxanthin synthesized and accumulated in Haematococcus pluvialis accounts for about 2.7% - 3.8% of the dry cell weight, making it an ideal biological source for natural astaxanthin production.
Efficacy of Astaxanthin
1.Antioxidation
Astaxanthin exerts its antioxidant effects through multiple mechanisms, including neutralizing singlet oxygen, scavenging free radicals to prevent chain reactions, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, enhancing immune system function, and regulating gene expression.
2.Anti - inflammation
Astaxanthin can prevent the occurrence of inflammation in biological systems. This is related to blocking the NF - κB - dependent signaling pathway and inhibiting the gene expression of downstream inflammatory mediators such as interleukins and tumor necrosis factor - α. Astaxanthin also exerts anti - inflammatory effects by inhibiting cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide - stimulated BV2 microglial cells. In vivo studies have also shown that astaxanthin can reduce inflammation in tissues and organs.
3.Anti - apoptosis
Astaxanthin can modify some key apoptotic proteins, thereby preventing the occurrence of related diseases. Astaxanthin regulates mitogen - activated protein kinase p38, enhances the phosphorylation of Bcl - 2 - associated death protein, down - regulates the activities of cytochrome c, caspase - 3, and caspase - 9, and can also activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thus improving mitochondrial - related apoptosis. Relevant literature also reports that astaxanthin can induce the endogenous apoptotic pathway in a hamster oral cancer model through the inactivation of the ERK/MAPK and PI3K/AKT cascades.
4.Anti - aging effect
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid with strong antioxidant and anti - inflammatory properties.
Application of Astaxanthin
1.Astaxanthin can be used in the food industry and the health product industry. As a highly effective natural antioxidant, its primary function is to scavenge free radicals and enhance the anti - aging ability of the human body.
2.Astaxanthin can be used in the pharmaceutical industry. Natural astaxanthin can penetrate the three major human barriers, namely the blood - brain barrier, the blood - pancreas barrier, and the blood - testis barrier. Moreover, it is the only carotenoid that can penetrate the blood - brain barrier. Therefore, it is the only carotenoid that may act on brain cells and the retinal of the eye.
3.Astaxanthin can be used as a feed additive. Synthetic astaxanthin is generally used in the feed .
Astaxanthin powder are now available for purchase at Xi’an Biof Bio-Technology Co., Ltd. For more information , visit https://www.biofingredients.com.
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Post time: Feb-08-2025
