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Review
. 2025 Jun 15;14(12):2103.
doi: 10.3390/foods14122103.

Production Methods, Biological Activity and Potential Application Prospects of Astaxanthin

Fajian Ren  1 , Chaolong Rao  1   2 , Qiwen Xiang  1 , Jiayu Wen  1 , Qiuju Dai  1 , He Li  1 , Jiayu Liang  1 , Yan Chen  1   2 , Cheng Peng  2
Affiliations
Review

Production Methods, Biological Activity and Potential Application Prospects of Astaxanthin

Fajian Ren et al. Foods. .

Abstract

Astaxanthin (AST), a ketocarotenoid, is prevalent in aquatic life forms. AST has a variety of health-promoting effects, such as anti-oxidation, anti-cancer, eye protection, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, skin care, anti-diabetes, neuroprotection, etc. It holds significant potential for applications in healthcare products, food additives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and aquaculture. The production capacity of AST limits its wide application to a certain extent. The instability and safety risks associated with the chemical synthesis of AST have led to increased interest in its biosynthetic pathway. In this paper, the synthesis pathway, biological activity, and application prospects of AST were reviewed. To enhance the market accessibility of AST, investigating innovative synthesis techniques and its emergent biological effects is crucial.

Keywords: application prospects; astaxanthin; biological activity; ketocarotenoid; mechanisms; source.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Structures of 9-cis-AST and 13-cis-AST; (B) structures of (3S,3′S), (3R,3′R), and (3R,3′S) all-trans-AST.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The antioxidant mechanisms of AST.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The anti-cancer mechanisms of AST.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The mechanisms of AST eye protection.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mechanisms of AST.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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