ASTAXANTHIN – BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AND USE IN HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION

Abstract

Oxidative stress is a condition in which the delicate balance between the production of free radicals and their removal through antioxidative protective mechanisms is shifted in the direction of free radical formation and consequent oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is established processes contributing to onset and development of various acute and chronic diseases. Astaxanthin is a potent lipid-soluble keto-carotenoid with auspicious potential in human health protection. It protects organisms against a wide range of diseases with excellent safety and tolerability. Various imperative biological activities in vitro and in vivo models have been suggested for astaxanthin. This review article is focused on the therapeutic potentials, biological activities and beneficial health effects of astaxanthin.