Astaxanthin
  This section provides inputs on  the following aspects of Astaxanthin

1. What is Astaxanthin?
2. Source of Astaxanthin
3. Benefits of Astaxanthin
4. Applications of Astaxanthin
5. Strains that Produce Astaxanthin
6. Market Scope of Astaxanthin
7. Prominent Players
8. Challenges in   Astaxanthin Production
9. Astaxanthin – Factoids

What is Astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring high-value  ketocarotenoid pigment with excellent antioxidant effects belonging to the  xanthophyll group of carotenoids, or the oxygenated carotenoids.  The hydroxyl and keto functional groups  present in the ending ionone ring of astaxanthin  is responsible for its uniquely powerful  antioxidant activity. They differs from other antioxidants in its ability to  penetrate the blood brain and retina barriers. Therefore, it is believed to  protect the brain and nervous system from neurodegenerative diseases (e.g.  cerebral thrombosis and stroke) and aging. 

Natural astaxanthin production  and commercialization is estimated to be a 1.2 billion dollar annual market.  Today, essentially all commercial astaxanthin for aquaculture is produced  synthetically from petrochemical sources, with an annual turnover of over $200  million, and a selling price of around $2000 per kilogram of pure astaxanthin.  Natural astaxanthin is sold for over $7000 per kg.

Source of Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is present in many types of seafood, including  salmon, trout, red sea bream, shrimp and lobster, as well as in birds such as  flamingo and quail. As of today, astaxanthin is commercially produced from the  microalga Hematococcus pluvialis.

Benefits of Astaxanthin

• Astaxanthin acts as a chain-breaking  anti-oxidant, and therefore protect lipid-rich cell membranes from degradative  oxidation.
• Natural astaxanthin is a dietary supplement  with extremely powerful antioxidant benefits for human applications.
• Astaxanthin traps more free radicals than any  other antioxidant. 
• Astaxanthin has been proven to cross the human  blood-brain barrier, and therefore has the ability to directly act as a superb  antioxidant in the brain and the eyes.
• Astaxanthin enhances the action of other  antioxidants like Vitamin E and C.
• Astaxanthin protects nucleic acid components  of DNA, avoiding mutations to genetic material due to oxidative stress and  protects muscle cells from damaging effects of active oxygen produced upon  swimming upstream.
• Astaxanthin has been documented to  prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and enhance immune functions.

Applications of Astaxanthin

• Astaxanthin finds application in  the nutraceutical Industry, pharmaceutical  Industry and food coloration application
• Astaxanthin is  used as an animal feed additive to impart  coloration to salmonids (salmon and trout), as well as to red sea bream and  Tai.
• Recent studies revealed the wrinkling  and moisturizing effect of astaxanthin which suggest its potential  cosmeceutical applications in protection against skin aging.

Algae Strains for Astaxanthin Production

The most commonly  used algae strain that is used for Astaxanthin production is Haemotococcus Pluvalis. H  pluvialis is believed to accumulate the highest levels of astaxanthin in  nature. Commercially grown H pluvialis can accumulate more than 40g  of astaxanthin per kilogram of dry biomass. Other strains that could be used  for astaxanthin production include: Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella zofingiensis,  Coelastrella striolata var. multistriata

Haematocyst of Haemotococcus pluvialis with red pigment astaxanthin.

Astaxanthin

Commerical Production of Astaxathin

Natural astaxanthin is produced in a two-stage culture process and its concentration can reach 1.5% to 4% of the dry weight.

Market Scope

The demand for natural astaxanthin is now emerging in the multi-billion dollar nutraceutical market. Astaxanthin is principally consumed by the salmon feed industry. The annual worldwide aquaculture market of this pigment is estimated at US$ 200 million with an average price of US$ 2500/kg.

The global astaxanthin market is estimated at about $257 million, most of which is used in fish coloration (2009 data; estimates by BCC Research for astaxanthin market size are however lower). The human uses market is growing and estimated at about $27-$40 million. Most astaxanthin is derived from the algae, H pluvialis, which is commonly consumed by fish and crustaceans – like salmon and lobster – and is responsible for their pink coloration.

Table: Market Sectors and Future Market Potential  of Astaxanthin

Prominent Players in the Astaxanthin Market

Challenges in Astaxanthin Production

• Although natural sources have long been exploited for astaxanthin production, it is still uncertain if natural astaxanthin can be produced at lower cost than that of synthetic astaxanthin or not.
• One of the major limitations with the H pluvialis production system is that the astaxanthin gets trapped behind thick cells walls, thus complicating the extraction process and the production yields.
• Production capacity of H pluvialis is constrained by its intrinsic slow growth, low cell yield, ease of contamination by bacteria and protozoa, and susceptibility to adverse weather conditions. These challenges are magnified as processes are scaled up, and therefore require advanced technology to control

H pluvialis cannot be efficiently cultivated in dark heterotrophic mode, which requires high levels of irradiance, making the process economically less reasonable.

Astaxanthin - Factoids

• One of the technical challenges to developing Haematococcus algae astaxanthin has been the tough cell wall of the spores, which must be ruptured to allow the cell contents to be effectively digested by animals.  Cyanotech Corporation in Hawaii uses a combination of closed photobioreactors and open culture ponds to successfully mass produce astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus biomass, and proprietary milling technology to crack the cell walls.
• Commercial production of astaxanthin is being carried out in USA, India, Japan and Israel
• Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. Astaxanthin has been shown in studies to have 100-500 times the antioxidant capacity of Vitamin E as well as 10 times beta-carotene’s antioxidant capacity. Astaxanthin is found in many places in nature, but it is usually in small quantities as in salmon or shrimp.  
• By far the most concentrated and natural source of astaxanthin is the Haematococcus pluvialis algae.  These green algae also provide other important carotenoids such as beta-carotene. It accumulate the highest levels of astaxanthin in nature; commercially more than 40g of astaxanthin per kilo of dry biomass.
• Research shows that due to astaxanthin's potent antioxidant activity, it may be beneficial in cardiovascular, immune, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Some sources have demonstrated its potential as an anti-cancer agent. Research supports the assumption that it protects body tissues from oxidative damage. It also crosses the blood-brain barrier, which makes it available to the eye, brain and central nervous system to alleviate oxidative stress that contributes to ocular, and neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma and Alzheimer's.
• Astaxanthin, as other carotenoids, can act as a quencher of singlet oxygen and other free radicals by absorbing the excited energy of singlet oxygen onto the polyene electron-rich chain, resulting first in the excitation of the carotenoid to a triplet state, and then in the dissipation of the extra energy in the form of heat by relaxation back to the ground state. In this way, it prevents cellular components or tissues from being damaged. The carotenoid structure remains unchanged, and ready to act as a radical quencher.
• Astaxanthin has been shown to protect against free radicals and promote numerous health functions. Astaxanthin offers protection against a broad range of human diseases like neuro-degenerative disorders. The antioxidant of astaxanthin is stronger than β-carotene and vitamin E by 40x and 1,000x respectively.

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