The biological function of astaxanthin and its application

Sep 17
11:31

2012

David Yvon

David Yvon

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The astaxanthin had been separated from shrimp and crab shells as early as in the 1930s, but it was not until the mid-1980s, an extensive study of its biological function had been started. Studies have shown that astaxanthin has many important biological functions and broad application prospects.

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The Astaxanthin widespread in the biosphere,The biological function of astaxanthin and its application Articles especially in aquatic animals of shrimp, crab, fish and bird feathers, have effects on the color. The astaxanthin was bright red, when it is added to the feed of aquatic animals, the aquatic animals’ body color can be becomes bright. Usually add astaxanthin supplement as a pigment in aquatic animal’s feed, can greatly increase the market value of the product. Astaxanthin not only can be used as the aquaculture animals colorants, there are more and more evidence prove that the astaxanthin also have an extremely important role on normal growth, healthy farming, improve survival and reproductive rates of aquatic animals. In addition, to add astaxanthin in aquaculture feed can also prevent processed aquatic products such as rainbow trout lipid oxidation and deterioration, and provide a rich source of astaxanthin for human food.

Astaxanthin is a non-vitamin carotenoids can not be converted to vitamin in animals’ body. However, in the molecule of astaxanthin, there is a very long conjugated double bonds, and has a hydroxyl group and the conjugated double bond chain end unsaturated ketone, wherein the hydroxyl group and a keto group and a hydroxy ketone, these structures have a more lively electronic effects can provide free radical electronic or attract free radicals unpaired electron, so that it can easily react to free radical and scavenging free radical, and thus play a role of antioxidant. Animal experiments showed that astaxanthin can remove sulfides, disulfides. The astaxanthin in the free radical scavenging, its capacity is more than 10 times of the carotenoid and more than 100 times than the vitamin. At the same time, the astaxanthin can inhibit or reduce the role of lipid peroxidation, to protect phosphatidylcholine lipids from oxidation. Therefore, astaxanthin can be applied to pharmaceutical products, as anti-aging drugs and food, health care products.

Astaxanthin can effectively clear the free radicals generated by UV irradiation in the body, to reduce the harm caused by the photochemical, therefore, the UV-induced skin cancer prevention and treatment effect. In addition, researches by cosmetic raw material suppliers show that the astaxanthin mixed with cosmetics, can form a new sunscreen daily cosmetics.

As a immune agents: in recent years, some studies by astaxanthin manufacturer have shown that astaxanthin has important physiological functions to promote the production of antibodies, enhanced host immune function. Singlet oxygen having a cytotoxic effect on the animal's immune system, it catalyzes the production of free radicals can accelerate the degradation of the macrophage cell membrane, resulting in phagocytic efficiency and dysfunction. Astaxanthin clear singlet oxygen, can significantly affect the animal's immune function. The experiments show that in the presence of an antigen, the astaxanthin can significantly promote the spleen cells to produce antibodies, thereby enhancing cell stimulation of human blood cells in vivo production of immunoglobulin. Etc. by experimental observation found that astaxanthin can significantly promote the thymus-dependent antigen stimulation of antibody production, secretion and increase the number of cells. Supply astaxanthin also can partially restored the humoral immune system in aged mice. Thus, astaxanthin has important immunoregulatory action, can be used as immunostimulants.

Many experts study the physiological and biochemical functions of the natural carotenoid. Found astaxanthin has a strong anti-cancer effect. Can inhibit the mutagenic effects caused by aflatoxin, diethyl nitrite nitropropane, butyl, hydroxybutyl, nitrosamines and cyclophosphamide. Therefore, astaxanthin can effectively prevent liver cancer, oral cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer. The use of astaxanthin can develop a drug for the treatment and prevention of tumor.

The application of astaxanthin is more than what we said above, it can also for the prevention of atherosclerosis and related diseases, it should be attributed to the inoxidizability of astaxanthin. Astaxanthin can reduce or inhibit the oxidation of LDL in the blood, make the vessel wall deposits reduce, thereby reducing the occurrence of atherosclerosis. In addition, the astaxanthin can also be a characteristic for the prevention and treatment of eye disease similar to vitamin. Especially have  a significant effect to reduce the incidence of diabetic eye disease, can be used as a supplementary drug for treatment of diabetes.

Source:http://www.cosprm.com