Skip to Content
Merck
All Photos(1)

Documents

SML0982

Sigma-Aldrich

Astaxanthin

from Blakeslea trispora, ≥97% (HPLC), powder, PPARγ

Synonym(s):

3,3′-Dihydroxy-β-carotene-4,4′-dione, trans-Astaxanthin

Sign Into View Organizational & Contract Pricing
All Photos(1)

About This Item

Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):
C40H52O4
CAS Number:
7542-45-2
Molecular Weight:
596.84
UNSPSC Code:
12352200
NACRES:
NA.77

product name

Astaxanthin, ≥97% (HPLC), from Blakeslea trispora

biological source

Blakeslea trispora

Assay

≥97% (HPLC)

form

powder

storage condition

desiccated
protect from light

color

, pink to very dark purple

solubility

DMSO: 1 mg/mL (warmed)

storage temp.

−20°C

InChI

1S/C40H52O4/c1-27(17-13-19-29(3)21-23-33-31(5)37(43)35(41)25-39(33,7)8)15-11-12-16-28(2)18-14-20-30(4)22-24-34-32(6)38(44)36(42)26-40(34,9)10/h11-24,35-36,41-42H,25-26H2,1-10H3/b12-11+,17-13+,18-14+,23-21+,24-22+,27-15+,28-16+,29-19+,30-20+/t35-,36-/m0/s1

InChI key

MQZIGYBFDRPAKN-UWFIBFSHSA-N

General description

Astaxanthin (AST) is a red dietary carotenoid. It is mainly found in aquatic animals and microalgae, such as Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlorella zofingiensis.

Application

Astaxanthin has been used:
  • as an antioxidant to study its effect on Brachionus manjavacas (Rotifera) population growth
  • to study its effects on the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
  • to investigate its role in restoring the expression of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2) and glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) through epigenetic modification in human prostate LNCaP cells.

Biochem/physiol Actions

In vivo and in vitro studies propose that astaxanthin (AST) possesses health-promoting activities, signifying its potential use in the prevention of various diseases, such as cancers and Parkinson′s disease. Due to its bright red colour, AST has been used as a food colorant in animal feeds.
Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant with antiproliferative, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activity. Astaxanthin protects against oxidative stress, inhibiting NF-KB, suppressing pro-inflammatory genes and suppressing production of pro-inflammatory compounds nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, TNF-α, and interleukin-1β. Astaxanthin′s protection of cells from oxidative stress generated by TNF-α and palmitate has been shown to ameliorate insulin resistance. Astaxanthin has also been shown to be an inhibitor of PPARγ.

Other Notes

Light and air sensitive

Storage Class Code

11 - Combustible Solids

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

Already Own This Product?

Find documentation for the products that you have recently purchased in the Document Library.

Visit the Document Library

Effects of astaxanthin on Brachionus manjavacas (Rotifera) population growth.
Johnston R K, et al.
Aquaculture Research, 49(6), 2278-2287 (2018)
Shreya Agrawal et al.
Plant physiology (2021-10-09)
The high-value carotenoid astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4'-dione) is one of the most potent antioxidants in nature. In addition to its large-scale use in fish farming, the pigment has applications as a food supplement and an active ingredient in cosmetics and in pharmaceuticals
Ningyang Li et al.
Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 104(16), 6977-6989 (2020-07-01)
This study aimed to develop a bioprocess using plant oil as the carbon source for lipid-assimilating yeast to produce high-value astaxanthin. Using high-oleic safflower oil as a model, efficient cell growth and astaxanthin production by the engineered Yarrowia lipolytica strain
Chengzhen Liu et al.
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 67(18), 5113-5121 (2019-04-24)
Astaxanthin, a hydrophobic carotenoid found in marine plants and animals, is claimed to exhibit various beneficial biological activities. Its use as a nutraceutical in foods, however, is currently limited by its low water-solubility and poor bioavailability. The goal of this
Yingsong Zhou et al.
Nutrients, 11(6) (2019-06-05)
Exercise-induced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are increasingly considered as beneficial health promotion. Astaxanthin (ASX) has been recognized as a potent antioxidant suitable for human ingestion. We investigated whether ASX administration suppressed antioxidant enzyme activity in moderate-intensity exercise. Seven-week-old male
View All Related Papers

Articles

DISCOVER Bioactive Small Molecules for Nitric Oxide & Cell Stress Research

DISCOVER Bioactive Small Molecules for Nitric Oxide & Cell Stress Research

Our team of scientists has experience in all areas of research including Life Science, Material Science, Chemical Synthesis, Chromatography, Analytical and many others.

Contact Technical Service