Astaxanthin is a ketone or carotenoid, fat-soluble, insoluble in water, and soluble in organic solvents. It is widely found in the biological world, especially in the feathers of aquatic animals such as shrimp, crab, fish and birds, and plays a role in coloring. Astaxanthin is a non-vitamin A source carotenoid and cannot be converted into vitamin A in animals. Astaxanthin is a fat-soluble and water-soluble pigment found in marine organisms such as shrimp, crab, salmon, and algae. The human body cannot synthesize astaxanthin on its own. It is the strongest antioxidant in nature. Its antioxidant activity is 550 times that of vitamin E and 10 times that of beta-carotene, so it is called the “king of antioxidants”!
Natural astaxanthin is mainly found in algae, yeast, salmon, trout, shrimp, etc. Astaxanthin from biological sources is safe to use, environmentally friendly, and has broad development prospects. At present, natural astaxanthin is mainly produced by microbial fermentation. The microorganisms that can produce astaxanthin include: Phaffia of the Basidiomycetes, two strains of bacteria that assimilate hydrocarbons, and green algae that grow in a nitrogen-deficient environment.