HerbResearch

The antioxidant benefits of the carotenoid Astaxanthin have only recently been fully understood, and human clinical trials are still in the early stages. However the known, as well as the potential benefits of this red pigment, found in fish and crustaceans, are extensive. Astaxanthin is fat-soluble, pigment antioxidant called a xanthophyll belonging to the carotenoid family of compounds. There are over 600 carotenoids found in nature providing the red, orange and yellow pigments to fruits and vegetables. The bestknown carotenoid is probably betacarotene, the pro-vitamin A found in carrots and other orange vegetables. Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A by the human digestive system. The carotenoids are broadly divided into "carotenes," or non-oxygen substituted hydrocarbon carotenoids, and "xanthophylls," oxygen-substituted carotenoids. Carotenoids are chemically known as tetra-terpenes, a subgroup of the large group of plant constituents known as terpenes or terpenoids. Carotenoids are large molecules with a backbone row of forty Carbon molecules (a hydrocarbon chain with conjugated double bonds). Lycopene and lutein are other carotenoids, which have become very popular in the last few years because of their beneficial effects on the prostate and vision respectively. Lycopene, lutein and many other carotenoids lack pro-vitamin A like activity.

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