Astaxanthin is a keto carotenoid extracted from Haematococcus Pluvialis and is fat-soluble. It exists widely in the biological world, especially in the feathers of aquatic animals such as shrimps, crabs, fish, and birds, and plays a role in color rendering.They play two roles in plants and algae, absorbing light energy for photosynthesis and protecting chlorophyll from light damage. We obtain carotenoids through food intake which are stored in the skin, protecting our skin from photodamage.
Studies have found that astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that is 1,000 times more effective than vitamin E in purifying free radicals produced in the body. Free radicals are a type of unstable oxygen consisting of unpaired electrons that survive by ingesting electrons from other atoms. Once a free radical reacts with a stable molecule, it is converted into a stable free radical molecule, which initiates a chain reaction of free radical combinations.Many scientists believe that the root cause of human aging is cellular damage due to an uncontrolled chain reaction of free radicals. Astaxanthin has a unique molecular structure and excellent antioxidant capacity.