Astaxanthin is one of the main carotenoid pigments. It has beneficial effects on the immune system of the human body due to its powerful antioxidant properties. The application of this bioactive compound can be found to be significant in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. The aim of this research was to investigate astaxanthin yield from six species of Malaysian shrimp carapace. Six types of shrimp species-Parapenaeopsis sculptili, Metapenaeus lysianassa, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Metapenaeopsis hardwickii, Penaeus merguiensis, and Penaeus monodon-were used to investigate total carotenoid content and astaxanthin yield. The investigation was carried out using chemical extraction and high-pressure processing (HPP) methods at 210 MPa, for a period of 10 min with a solvent mixture of acetone and methanol (7:3, v/v). HPP was proven to have a significant impact in increasing the total carotenoid content and astaxanthin yield. The highest total carotenoid content and astaxanthin yield is shown to be contained in the Penaeus monodon species. Total carotenoid was increased from 46.95 µg/ml using chemical extraction to 68.26 µg/ml using HPP; yield of astaxanthin was increased from 29.44 µg/gdw using chemical extraction to 59.9744 µg/gdw using HPP. Therefore, comparison between the HPP and chemical extraction methods showed that HPP is more advantageous with higher astaxanthin yield, higher quality, and shorter extraction time.

Penaeus monodon is a species of shrimp with astaxanthin content that prevents various diseases and enhances immune system. High‐pressure processing (HPP) is capable of achieving higher extraction astaxanthin yield within short processing time. The aim of this research was to optimize the extraction condition of astaxanthin from P. monodon using HPP using response surface methodology (RSM). The investigation was carried out using variables: pressure (150–250 MPa), holding time (10–20 min), and amount of acetone‐methanol mixture, 7:3, vol/vol (3–7 ml). The optimum condition was achieved at the pressure of 238.54 MPa, 16.29 min of holding time, and 6.59 ml of solvent mixture. The optimum yield of astaxanthin was 95.17 μg/gdw. The R2 value was 0.9836 and the adjusted‐R2 value was 0.9688. These values indicate that the application of RSM to optimize the yield of astaxanthin with HPP has a significant impact in enhancing the yield of astaxanthin.