What is astaxanthin? Astaxanthin is one of antioxidant from natural carotene group. Now, there are 732 compound that included to carotene’s big family. Human body cannot synthesizing carotene, so they need food that contains carotene.
carotene divided into two class, they are beta carotene and xantofil. Astaxanthin included to xantofil class as same as lutein. Astaxanthin formula founded for the first time from lobster from Astacus gammarus species in year 1983 by Kuhn.
Astaxanthin have two violence antioxidant power. Astaxanthin is one of strongest antioxidant that have founded. The Research show astaxanthin antioxidant power 550x stronger than vitamin E and 40x stronger than beta carotene. Astaxanthin can give powerful protection to the creature.
Actually astaxanthin have been human food during thousands year. This essence can founded from microalga around the world. From tropic lake until snow field Antarctica. Did we ever find astaxanthin in our food? Certainly, because astaxanthin is pink and red color giver to fresh Salmon meat, shrimp and lobster.
Natural astaxanthin is astaxanthin species that achieved from primary producer like plants, phytoplankton, or microorganism like bacteria and fermentation agent. Or animal like Rebon shrimp, Krill shrimp etc. Natural astaxanthin generally used are : Haematococcus pluvialis, Chlorella vulgaris, Phaffia rhodozyma, Paracoccus and Krill shrimp.
Because of its violence power, so in last 20 years, there are many research done to proof antioxidant power and other necessary astaxanthin effects for health.
NOT ORDINARY ANTIOXIDANT
As an antioxidant, astaxanthin be familiar very potential. Why astaxanthin called as superior antioxidant? One of the reason is astaxanthin is pure antioxidant that have not pro oxidant. As a consideration, the other carotene family like beta carotene, leucopenia, and zeaxanthin, besides they have antioxidant effect, they also have pro oxidant effect. Astaxanthin position in membrane cell also very superior, that is standing straight with the membrane cell with the result that easy to avoid every oxidant that come in through the membrane. While the other antioxidant are linear.
Besides as an antioxidant, astaxanthin also have inflammation effect. It obstruct pro inflammation molecule like sitokin and kemokin. In addition, the research show astaxanthin is very useful to solve any problems in eyes like tired eyes, eyesight interfere, until cataract that caused by diabetes or often called cataract diabetic.
Exhausted eyes called astenofia. The progression of information technology today increasing utilizing virtual display terminals (VDT), especially when working. The problems that often appear as result too long working in front of VDT screen like computer are exhausted eyes. The indications are sensitive to ray, headache, eyes illness, and clouded view. If these indications doesn’t handled quickly, it can causing more and more in serious condition. Astaxanthin able to decreasing exhausted eyes indication because it able to reform the lens accommodation and increasing blood current and prevent eyes inflammation.
Astaxanthin also believed can decreasing hypertension. Previously it has been research that using carotene to treat hypertension. The research of astaxanthin to treat the hypertension has done to mouse that made to be hypertension and disposed stroke. The result is the mouse’s blood pressure decrease until 10% when given astaxanthin 50 mg each one kilogram body weight every day.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is chronic disease that can treat by astaxanthin. Astaxanthin also purpose to protect pancreas beat cell that produce insulin in order that doesn’t damaged because of oxidative process. For flank disease as result infection of Helicobacter pylori, astaxanthin can treat the system of body immune until the existence of bacteria that attack to the flank can decreased.
The strong antioxidant like astaxanthin also useful for body immune and muscle recovery. Excessive physical activity resulting reactive oxygen (ROS) that has damaging effect to muscle appearance. ROS is very reactive and damaging to cell by trigging DNA and protein oxidation. Astaxanthin purpose to protect muscle cell component and arranging the blocking of inflammation process. In research, health man that given astaxanthin 4 mg each day until 6 month shows significant progressiveness at their muscle ability and flexibility.
One again the use of astaxanthin that has been researched is for skin healthy. Nowadays, most human’s skin soiled by chemistry material or experience the damage that cause early aging at epidermis skin layer. Astaxanthin that resulted from Haematococcus has direct response to protect cells toward oxidative stress that result by ultraviolet.
