Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential of natural bioactive pigment: astaxanthin

Abstract

Astaxanthin (3,3′-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4′-dione) is an orange-red, lipophilic keto-carotenoid pigment. It is majorly found in marine ecosystems particularly in aquatic animals such as salmon, shrimp, trout, krill, crayfish, and so on. It is also synthesized in microalgae Heamatococcus pluvialis, Chlorococcum, Chlorella zofingiensis, red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma and bacterium Paracoccus carotinifaciens. Some aquatic and terrestrial creatures regarded as a primary and secondary sources of the astaxanthin producing and accumulating it through their metabolic pathways. Astaxanthin is the powerful antioxidant, nutritional supplement as well as promising therapeutic compound, observed to have activities against different ravaging diseases and disorders. Researchers have reported remarkable bioactivities of astaxanthin against major non-communicable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative, and immune disorders. The current review discusses some structural aspects of astaxanthin. It further elaborates its multiple potencies such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-cancer, anti-obese, anti-diabetic, anti-ageing, anti-TB, anti-viral, anti-COVID 19, neuro-protective, nephro-protective, and fertility-enhancing properties. These potencies make it a more precious entity in the preventions as well as treatments of prevalent systematic diseases and/or disorders. Also, the review is acknowledging and documenting its powerful bioactivities in relation with the pharmaceutical as well as nutraceutical applicability. Graphical Abstract

Fabrication of astaxanthin‐loaded nanoparticles and their neuroprotective effects on C6 cell lines

“…vitamin E, green tea catechins, Co-Q 10, and resveratrol, respectively, as well as 6000 times more than vitamin C. 5 Previous researches show that astaxanthin exhibited many excellent benefits, including preventing cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative, and immune disorders, improving heart health, and keeping bones strong. [6][7][8] Among them, astaxanthin has attracted great interest due to its potential to help control and prevent neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, neuropathic pain, cognitive decline, and cerebral ischemia.…”

Astaxanthin ameliorates inflammation, oxidative stress, and reproductive outcomes in endometriosis patients undergoing assisted reproduction: A randomized, triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

“…Moreover, AST alleviates oxidative damage to DNA by lowering 8-hydroxy-20 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), inhibits lipid oxidation by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA), a decomposition product of peroxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane lipids, and reduces 8-isoprostane (ISP), an eicosanoid product of the free radical-catalyzed oxidation of primarily arachidonic acid. It can also increase plasma total antioxidant capability (TAC) and enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and paraoxonase (PON) ( 21 ).…”

Combinatorial Effect of Multiple Variables on Carotenoids and Lipids Up-Regulation in <em>Monoraphidium</em> sp. for Pharmacological and Nutraceutical Applications

“…Microalgal carotenoids serve as natural pigments in addition to their bioactive molecular attributes in nutraceuticals, food, feed, and aesthetics. This has prompted a rise in consumption that has driven the pursuit of novel natural origins for carotenoids [3]. In recent years, the demand for natural goods and health protection items has skyrocketed.…”