Astaxanthin, 3,3'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dione-β,β'-carotene, is a terpene unsaturated compound with a chemical formula of C40H52O4 and two molecular structures. A β-ionone ring, 11 conjugated double bonds. Astaxanthin is widely found in nature, such as in most crustaceans and carps, in the leaves, flowers, and fruits of plants, and in the feathers of flamingos. Astaxanthin has a variety of physiological effects, such as anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, cancer prevention, immunity enhancement, vision improvement, etc.
Physical and chemical properties：
Astaxanthin, also known as shrimp yellow, lobster shell pigment, is a carotenoid, also the highest level of carotenoid synthesis, dark pink, chemical structure similar to β-carotene. While β-carotene, lutein, canthaxanthin, and lycopene are all intermediates in the synthesis of carotenoids, astaxanthin has the strongest antioxidant activity in nature. It is widely found in the biological world, especially in the feathers of shrimp, crab, fish, algae, yeast and birds. It is one of the main carotenoids in marine organisms.
Astaxanthin Chemical name: 3,3'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dione-based β-carotene, pigment Aj067-69 CAS No: 472-61-7, molecular formula C40H52O4, molecular weight 596.86. Astaxanthin has 3 different kinds of 3S-3 'S, 3R-3' S, 3R-3'R (also called left-handed, meso-, right-handed) due to the optical (-OH) optical rotation at both ends. Configuration, in which astaxanthin is a mixture of three structural astaxanthins (left-handed 25%, right-handed 25%, meso-50%), with little antioxidant activity, and cultured organisms such as carp The astaxanthin in the body (mainly in the trans structure - 3S-3 S type) is completely different. Yeast-derived astaxanthin is 100% dextrorotatory (3R-3'R) and has partial antioxidant activity; the above two sources of astaxanthin are mainly used for coloring non-food animals and materials. Only the algae-derived astaxanthin is a 100% levorotatory (3S-3 'S) structure with the strongest biological activity.
The main function：
1、anti-oxidation
Natural astaxanthin (natural astaxanthin) is one of the world's strongest natural antioxidants. It effectively removes oxygen free radicals from cells, enhances cell regeneration, maintains body balance and reduces accumulation of aging cells. Cell and DNA are healthy, thus protecting skin health, promoting hair growth, anti-aging, relieving exercise fatigue and enhancing vitality. Since 2008, a large number of studies at home and abroad have confirmed that astaxanthin has strong antioxidant activity and has a positive role in improving immunity, preventing the occurrence and development of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and delaying aging. . [3]
Natural astaxanthin has antioxidant activity over existing antioxidants. Its ability to scavenge free radicals is: astaxanthin is 6000 times more effective than vitamin C; 1000 times that of vitamin E; 800 times that of coenzyme Q10; 1800 times that of nitric oxide; 3100 times that of natto; 700 times more anthocyanins; 100 times more potent than beta-carotene; 10 times more potent than lycopene; 200 times more potent than carotol; it is a pot polyphenols 320 times; only astaxanthin can be produced by algae and yeasts and bacteria, and higher animals cannot transform this chemical structure. Natural astaxanthin also has a clear characteristic, it is the only carotenoid that can pass the blood-brain barrier.
2、Colorant
Astaxanthin is a pigment. Astaxanthin can make salmon, egg yolk, shrimp, crab, etc. appear red, because in the natural world, astaxanthin is produced by algae, bacteria and phytoplankton. Some aquatic species, including crustaceans such as shrimp and crab, eat these algae and plankton, and then store the pigment in the shell, so their appearance is red. These shellfish are preyed by fish (salmon, squid, california), birds (flamingos, ibis), chickens and ducks, and then stored in skin and adipose tissue. This is why salmon and some other animals appear red. Professors from Huazhong Agricultural University also confirmed that the red component of natural red core duck eggs is also natural astaxanthin.
health benefits：
Astaxanthin can bind to proteins in the body and is blue and blue. It has antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-tumor and prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Astaxanthin comes from microalgae known as Haematococcus, which is extremely rich in polar marine environments and is a natural carotenoid (anything from yellow to red, including carotene and Qin pepper yellow). Astaxanthin is one of the Qinjiao yellows in the carotenoid family. Qinjiao helps prevent oxidation of vitamin A, vitamin E and other carotenoids. Qinjiaohuang is the strongest antioxidant effect of all carotenoids, 10 times stronger than β-carotene and 100 times stronger than vitamin E.
Astrophysicists have confirmed that astaxanthin can cross the barrier from the blood to the brain, so astaxanthin can protect the brain, central nervous system and both eyes. Astaxanthin has other effects: improving physical endurance, reducing the risk of muscle damage; relieving eye fatigue symptoms, improving visual sensitivity; reducing wrinkles by internal supplementation; alleviating symptoms of hyperpigmentation (known as age spots); Cytokines, inhibit gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemical factors; improve stomach health and alleviate infection or inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori
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