Unveiling astaxanthin: biotechnological advances, delivery systems and versatile applications in nutraceuticals and cosmetics

IF 2.3 3区生物学 Q3 MICROBIOLOGY

Archives of Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-01-27 DOI:10.1007/s00203-025-04241-2

Sai Manojna Polamraju, Janani Manochkumar, Madhubala Ganeshbabu, Siva Ramamoorthy

{"title":"Unveiling astaxanthin: biotechnological advances, delivery systems and versatile applications in nutraceuticals and cosmetics","authors":"Sai Manojna Polamraju, Janani Manochkumar, Madhubala Ganeshbabu, Siva Ramamoorthy","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04241-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Astaxanthin (ASX), “king of carotenoids”, is a xanthophyll carotenoid that is characterized by a distinct reddish-orange hue, procured from diverse sources including plants, microalgae, fungi, yeast, and lichens. It exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-ageing properties and has been demonstrated to mitigate ultraviolet-induced cellular and DNA damage, enhance immune system function, and improve cardiovascular diseases. Despite its broad utilization across nutraceutical, cosmetic, aquaculture, and pharmaceutical sectors, the large-scale production and application of ASX are constrained by the limited availability of natural sources, low production yields and stringent production requirements. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of ASX applications, emphasizing its dual roles in cosmetic and nutraceutical fields. It integrates insights into the qualitative differences of ASX from various natural sources and assesses biosynthetic pathways across organisms. Advanced biotechnological strategies for industrial-scale production are explored alongside innovative delivery systems, such as emulsions, films, microcapsules, nanoliposomes, and nanoparticles, designed to enhance ASX’s bioavailability and functional efficacy. By unifying perspectives on its nutraceutical and cosmetic applications, this review highlights the challenges and advancements in formulation and commercialization. Prospective research directions for optimizing ASX’s production and applications are also discussed, providing a roadmap for its future development.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Archives of Microbiology","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00203-025-04241-2","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Astaxanthin (ASX), “king of carotenoids”, is a xanthophyll carotenoid that is characterized by a distinct reddish-orange hue, procured from diverse sources including plants, microalgae, fungi, yeast, and lichens. It exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-ageing properties and has been demonstrated to mitigate ultraviolet-induced cellular and DNA damage, enhance immune system function, and improve cardiovascular diseases. Despite its broad utilization across nutraceutical, cosmetic, aquaculture, and pharmaceutical sectors, the large-scale production and application of ASX are constrained by the limited availability of natural sources, low production yields and stringent production requirements. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of ASX applications, emphasizing its dual roles in cosmetic and nutraceutical fields. It integrates insights into the qualitative differences of ASX from various natural sources and assesses biosynthetic pathways across organisms. Advanced biotechnological strategies for industrial-scale production are explored alongside innovative delivery systems, such as emulsions, films, microcapsules, nanoliposomes, and nanoparticles, designed to enhance ASX’s bioavailability and functional efficacy. By unifying perspectives on its nutraceutical and cosmetic applications, this review highlights the challenges and advancements in formulation and commercialization. Prospective research directions for optimizing ASX’s production and applications are also discussed, providing a roadmap for its future development.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Archives of Microbiology 生物-微生物学

CiteScore

4.90

自引率

3.60%

发文量

601

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Research papers must make a significant and original contribution to microbiology and be of interest to a broad readership. The results of any experimental approach that meets these objectives are welcome, particularly biochemical, molecular genetic, physiological, and/or physical investigations into microbial cells and their interactions with their environments, including their eukaryotic hosts. Mini-reviews in areas of special topical interest and papers on medical microbiology, ecology and systematics, including description of novel taxa, are also published. Theoretical papers and those that report on the analysis or ''mining'' of data are acceptable in principle if new information, interpretations, or hypotheses emerge.