酮的胡萝卜素形式；苏格兰鲑鱼（萨尔莫 salmo 撒拉族 salar））肉（龙虾伽马 gammarus）肉中的色素 , 火烈鸟的羽毛。酮的胡萝卜素形式；苏格兰鲑鱼（萨尔莫 salmo 撒拉族 salar））肉（龙虾伽马 gammarus）肉中的色素 , 火烈鸟 flamingo 羽毛 feathers. Astaxanthin (明显的 pronounced as-tuh-zan'-thin) is a 类胡萝卜素 carotenoid. it It 属于 belongs to a 大一点 larger class of 植物化学物质 phytochemicals known as 萜烯 terpenes. it It is 分类 classified as a 叶黄素 xanthophyll, 哪一个 which 手段 means "黄 yel低 low 树叶 leaves". 喜欢 Like 许多 many 类胡萝卜素 类胡萝卜素 carotenoids, 这是一个多彩的 it is a colorful, 脂溶性色素。虾青素是由微藻产生的 lipid-soluble pigment. Astaxanthin is produced by microalgae, 酵母 yeast, 三文鱼 salmon, 鳟鱼 trout, 磷虾 krill, 虾 shrimp, 小龙虾 crayfish, 甲壳类 crustaceans, 还有一些鸟的羽毛。罗勒·威登教授是第一个绘制虾青素结构的图。虾青素是在水生动物中发现的主要类胡萝卜素色素。在一些鸟类中也发现了它 and the feathers of some birds. Professor Basil Weedon was the first to map the structure of astaxanthin.; Astaxanthin is the main carotenoid pigment found in aquatic animals. It is also found in some birds, 如火烈鸟 such as flamingoes, 鹌鹑 quails, 和其他物种。鲑鱼等许多著名的海鲜中都包含这种类胡萝卜素 and other species. This carotenoid is included in many well-known seafoods such as salmon, 鳟鱼 trout, 红鲷 red seabream, 虾 shrimp, 龙虾 lobster, 和鱼卵。虾青素 and fish eggs. Astaxanthin, 类似于其他类胡萝卜素 similar to other carotenoids, 不能由动物合成，必须在饮食中提供。哺乳动物 cannot be synthesized by animals and must be provided in the diet. Mammals, 包括 类 including humans, 基于质谱的代谢组学特征分析可确定牙周疾病中炎症和氧化应激反应对唾液氧化还原状态和脂肪酸代谢的影响。 lack the ability to synthesize astaxanthin or to convert dietary astaxanthin into vitamin A. Astaxanthin belongs to the xanthophyll class of carotenoids. It is closely related to beta-carotene, 叶黄素 lutein, 和玉米黄质 and zeaxanthin, 与他们分享许多归因于类胡萝卜素的一般代谢和生理功能此外 sharing with them many of the general metabolic and physiological functions attributed to carotenoids. In addition, 双（1-精氨酸）-2-氧戊二酸双（左旋精氨酸）-2-氧戊二酸2-酮戊二酸2-氧戊二酸2-氧戊二酸a-酮戊二酸a-氧戊二酸α-氧戊二酸戊二酸 astaxanthin has unique chemical properties based on its molecular structure. The presence of the hydroxyl (OH) and keto (CdO) moieties on each ionone ring explains some of its unique features, 即 namely, 具有比其他类胡萝卜素更高的酯化能力，更高的抗氧化活性和更极性的性质。以其自由形式 the ability to be esterified and a higher antioxidant activity and a more polar nature than other carotenoids. In its free form, 虾青素非常不稳定，特别容易氧化。因此在自然界中发现它要么与蛋白质缀合（例如 astaxanthin is considerably unstable and particularly susceptible to oxidation. Hence it is found in nature either conjugated with proteins (e.g., 鲑鱼肌肉或龙虾外骨骼）或用一种或两种脂肪酸酯化（单酯和二酯形式） salmon muscle or lobster exoskeleton) or esterified with one or two fatty acids (monoester and diester forms), 2-羟基-4-甲氧基-4prime-甲基-2-羟基-4-甲氧基-4-甲基二苯甲酮2-羟基-4-甲氧基-4'-甲基二苯甲酮（2-羟基-4-甲氧基-苯基）-对甲苯基-甲酮2-羟基-4-甲氧基苯基4-甲基苯基酮（2-羟基-4-甲氧基苯基）-（4-甲基苯基）甲酮（2-羟基-4-甲氧基苯基）（4-甲基苯基）甲酮（2-羟基-4-甲氧基苯基）对甲苯基甲酮甲酮 which stabilize the molecule. Various astaxanthin isomers have been characterized on the basis of the configuration of the two hydroxyl groups on the molecule. the geometrical and optical isomers of astaxanthin are distributed selectively in different tissues and that levels of free astaxanthin in the liver are greater than the corresponding concentration in the plasma, 建议肝脏集中摄取。虾青素 suggesting concentrative uptake by the liver. Astaxanthin, 类似于其他类胡萝卜素 similar to other carotenoids, 主要用于香料应用（例如肥皂和香水），并作为l剂的基础。马尼拉埃莱米（Manila Elemi）仍然偶尔用作漆和清漆的成分 is a very lipophilic compound and has a low oral bioavailability. This criterion has limited the ability to test this compound in well-defined rodent models of human disease. (PMID: 3-二甲基烯丙醇3-甲基丁-2-烯-1-醇3-甲基巴豆醇3-甲基-2-丁烯-1-醇2-甲基-2-丁烯-4-醇3-甲基-2-丁烯-1-醇3-甲基-2-丁烯醇3-甲基-2-丁烯醇3-甲基丁-2-烯-1-醇3-甲基巴豆醇戊烯醇（3-甲基-2-丁烯-1-醇）异戊烯醇藜芦醇（谷氨酸） 16562856); Astaxanthin is a carotenoid widely used in salmonid and crustacean aquaculture to provide the pink color characteristic of that species. This application has been well documented for over two decades and is currently the major market driver for the pigment. Additionally, 雪松油无萜烯柠檬皮油无萜烯柠檬皮果皮油无萜烯柠檬柠檬油无萜柠檬香精油无萜柠檬酸柠檬油无萜烯柠檬油无萜烯超级x柠檬油无萜烯柠檬油 astaxanthin also plays a key role as an intermediary in reproductive processes. Synthetic astaxanthin dominates the world market but recent interest in natural sources of the pigment has increased substantially. Common sources of natural astaxanthin are the green algae Haematococcus pluvialis, 红酵母 the red yeast, 红发夫酵母 Phaffia rhodozyma, 以及甲壳类副产物。虾青素具有异常的抗氧化活性，这导致了胶囊产品在营养食品市场上的激增。也 as well as crustacean byproducts. Astaxanthin possesses an unusual antioxidant activity which has caused a surge in the nutraceutical market for the encapsulated product. Also, 健康益处，例如预防心血管疾病 health benefits such as cardiovascular disease prevention, 增强免疫力 immune system boosting, 抗幽门螺杆菌的生物活性 bioactivity against Helycobacter pylori, 和白内障的预防 and cataract prevention, 与虾青素的消耗有关。关于虾青素对健康的益处的研究是最近的，并且大部分是在体外或在临床前对 类进行的。 （pmid have been associated with astaxanthin consumption. Research on the health benefits of astaxanthin is very recent and has mostly been performed in vitro or at the pre-clinical level with humans. (PMID: 16431409）；虾青素 16431409); Astaxanthin, 不像某些类胡萝卜素 unlike some carotenoids, 不会在 体中转化为维生素A（视黄醇）。过多的维生素A对 体有毒 does not convert to Vitamin A (retinol) in the human body. Too much Vitamin A is toxic for a human, 但虾青素不是。然而 but astaxanthin is not. However, 它是一种强大的抗氧化剂；据称它是其他类胡萝卜素的十倍。然而 it is a powerful antioxidant; it is claimed to be 10 times more capable than other carotenoids. However, 其他来源表明，虾青素的抗氧化活性比其他类胡萝卜素略低。而虾青素是天然的营养成分 other sources suggest astaxanthin has slightly lower antioxidant activity than other carotenoids.; While astaxanthin is a natural nutritional component, 它可以作为食物的补充。该补充剂是针对 类的 it can be found as a food supplement. The supplement is intended for human, animal, 和水产养殖消费。虾青素的商业生产来自天然和合成来源。 and aquaculture consumption. The commercial production of astaxanthin comes from both natural and synthetic sources.