Astaxanthin

Category: vitamin

Pharmacological Mechanism

Keto-carotenoid pigment from Haematococcus algae (and dietary salmon, krill). High oxygen-radical absorbance — antioxidant on lipid-membrane peroxidation. Skin photoprotection + cardiovascular benefit signals in small trials.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 52h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 6 mg (Range: 2–12 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• cardiovascular
• integumentary

Pathways It Modulates

• GSH / GSSG redox cycle (activator) — carotenoid antioxidant — extends GSH/GPx peroxide chain
• Vitamin antioxidant axis (activator) — singlet oxygen quencher + Nrf2

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 5281224
• Formula: C40H52O4
• Molecular weight: 596.84 g/mol
• InChIKey: MQZIGYBFDRPAKN-UWFIBFSHSA-N
• SMILES: CC1=C(C(C[C@@H](C1=O)O)(C)C)/C=C/C(=C/C=C/C(=C/C=C/C=C(/C=C/C=C(/C=C/C2=C(C(=O)[C@H](CC2(C)C)O)C)\C)\C)/C)/C

References

• PMID 15556071