Astaxanthin, also known as astaxanthin, astaxanthin. In 1933, a purplish red crystal was extracted from shrimp, crab and other aquatic products. It was later determined to be a carotenoid closely related to astaxanthin, so it was named astaxanthin. It is widely found in shrimp, crab, fish, birds, some algae and fungi and other organisms. As A kind of provitamin A carotenoid, astaxanthin in animals cannot be converted into vitamin A, but have the same antioxidant effect and carotenoids, it quenching singlet oxygen and the ability to capture free radicals, more than 10 times the beta carotene, 100 times stronger than vitamin E, it is also called the "super vitamin E". Astaxanthin has been widely recognized for its antioxidant, pigmentation and immunity enhancement properties. The United States and other countries have been allowed to be used as food additives in production, as natural food additives, has broad prospects for development.

                         Natural astaxanthin is a carotenoid with strong antioxidant activity, which has antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-tumor and prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It has been used in health food, high-end cosmetics, medicines and other fields in the world. Astaxanthin itself is not stable, easy to oxidation, light decomposition, the market in the form of astaxanthin gel to retain its activity.

                       Astaxanthin can be produced by natural extraction and chemical synthesis. Chemical synthesis of astaxanthin and natural astaxanthin have significant differences in structure, function, application and safety, and its stability, antioxidant activity and colorability are obviously lower than natural astaxanthin. Therefore, the extraction of natural astaxanthin is generally preferred for large-scale production.

                  Astaxanthin is a ketone carotenoid, chemically named 3,3 '-dihydroxy-4,4' -diketone -β,β '-carotene, red solid powder, lipid soluble, insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents. . It widely exists in the biological world, especially in the feathers of aquatic animals such as shrimp, crab, fish and birds, and plays the role of color.

                 Astaxanthin is a chain breaking antioxidant. With strong antioxidant capacity, can remove nitrogen dioxide, sulfide, disulfide, etc., can also reduce lipid peroxidation, effectively inhibit the lipid peroxidation caused by free radicals. At the same time, is suppress tumor, enhance immunity, remove free radicals, such as the physiological function of many sided, skin caused by ultraviolet (uv) has good treatment effect, eye disease prevention and cure function, caused by diabetes in health care products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food additives and aquaculture has broad application prospects.

                Astaxanthin can be obtained by biological extraction, chemical synthesis, algae, bacteria, yeast, etc. In addition, the application of DNA recombination technology to construct astaxanthin high yield gene engineering is also being studied.

The application of astaxanthin red oil for pickling vegetables, seaweed and fruits has been patented, and the application of astaxanthin red oil for coloring drinks, noodles and spices has also been reported. Studies on astaxanthin synthesis of human health care products have been carried out in foreign countries. Health care products containing astaxanthin are developed for its efficacy in strengthening immune system function, anti-cancer, protecting retina from ultraviolet radiation and photooxidation, anti-inflammation, and preventing oxidative damage of low density lipoprotein (LDL) -cholesterol in blood.

Astaxanthin can pass the blood-brain barrier and protect the nervous system, especially the brain and spine. It can effectively treat ischemic reperfusion injury, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's syndrome, Alzheimer's syndrome and other central nervous system injuries. Effectively prevent retinal oxidation and photoreceptor cell damage, improve retinal function has a good effect, the research results have a patent application. Studies have shown that mice fed with astaxanthin rich chlorella powder can significantly reduce the adhesion and infection of Helicobacter pylori to the stomach, on this basis, oral preparation has been developed as anti-infection drugs. The antioxidant properties of astaxanthin can also be used to prevent atherosclerosis and related diseases by reducing or inhibiting the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood and reducing the deposition of blood vessel walls, thereby reducing atherosclerosis. Astaxanthin also increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the body. It is therefore used as a prophylactic for arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease and ischemic brain injury; Astaxanthin can also be used as a common antioxidant, anticancer agent and treatment of infertility, promoting embryo and sperm development.

Astaxanthin, as a new cosmetic material, is widely used in creams, emulsions, lip balms and skin care products due to its excellent characteristics. Especially in the field of cosmetics, natural shrimp green has a reputation for its unique molecular structure, through its antioxidant effect, can effectively ultraviolet caused by quenching free radicals, prevent skin aging, reduce the UVA and UVB light damage to the skin, prevent skin cancer cells and delay ageing, reduce wrinkles, skin melanin deposition, reduce freckles, can keep moisture, Gives skin more elasticity, tension and moisture.