Astaxanthin Esters Research Articles

Carapace color affects carotenoid composition and nutritional quality of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriochier sinensis

The raw carapace color of Eriocheir sinensis is normally greenblack, while a small percentage of wild crabs have a purple carapace that also attract a higher market price. This study was conducted to quantify color parameters, carotenoids composition, and nutritional composition between purple and greenblack crabs. The redness (a*) values, total astaxanthin and astaxanthin ester content (P < 0.05) of the carapace, hepatopancreas, and ovaries of purple crabs was significantly higher than those of greenblack crabs. Irrespective of sex, purple crabs had higher ester astaxanthin/total astaxanthin ratios in all tissues than greenblack crabs. Interestingly, female purple crabs had the significantly higher percentage of eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and lower ratio of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in all edible parts than greenblack crabs, while male purple crabs had the significantly higher arachidonic acid (ARA) levels than greenblack crabs. In conclusion, purple crabs have the better nutritional quality than greenblack crabs.

Docosahexaenoic acid-acylated astaxanthin ester exhibits superior performance over non-esterified astaxanthin in preventing behavioral deficits coupled with apoptosis in MPTP-induced mice with Parkinson's disease.

Non-esterified astaxanthin (AST) has been reported to exhibit protective effects from Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, DHA-acylated astaxanthin ester (DHA-AST) is widely distributed in the seafood. However, whether DHA-AST has an effect on PD, and the differences between DHA-AST, non-esterified AST and the combination of non-esterified AST (AST) with DHA (DHA + AST) is unclear. In the present study, mice with PD, induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), were employed to investigate the effects of DHA-AST, AST and DHA + AST on Parkinson's disease. The rotarod test results showed that DHA-AST significantly suppressed the PD development in MPTP-induced mice, and was better than the effects of AST and DHA + AST. Further mechanistic studies indicated that all three astaxanthin supplements could inhibit oxidative stress in the brain. It was noted that DHA-AST had the best ability to suppress the apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons via the mitochondria-mediated pathway and JNK and P38 MAPK pathway in the brain among the three treated groups. DHA-AST was superior to AST in preventing behavioral deficits coupled with apoptosis rather than oxidative stress, and might provide a valuable reference for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

DETERMINATION OF THE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF ASTAXANTIN ESTERS AND OBTAINING NANOEMULSIONS ON THEIR BASIS

Fatty acid composition of astaxanthin monoesters isolated from the microalgae extract Haematococcus pluvialis was determined by HPLC. Nanoemulsions of astaxanthin esters with phosphatidylcholine and albumin were obtained. The particle sizes in the nanoemulsions, zeta potential and the polydispersity index were determined.

A strategy for stimulating astaxanthin and lipid production in Haematococcus pluvialis by exogenous glycerol application under low light

In large-scale outdoor cultivation, Haematococcus pluvialis cultures are frequently exposed to low light caused by continuous rain conditions. Low light significantly restricts biomass and astaxanthin accumulation, thereby decreasing astaxanthin productivity. In this study, the effects of exogenous glycerol on the growth, photosynthesis, and astaxanthin and lipid accumulation in H. pluvialis under low light were investigated. A strategy was developed for promoting astaxanthin and lipid production in H. pluvialis under low light by the application of exogenous glycerol. Under low light, exogenous glycerol did not change the biomass and photosynthetic capacity of H. pluvialis. The addition of 1 mL L−1 glycerol increased total lipid content by 36.8% by increasing the formation of fatty acids during an 11-day growth period. Furthermore, exogenous glycerol could directly accelerate astaxanthin production under low light by increasing the formation of substrates (e.g. pyruvate). Meanwhile, the elevated fatty acid level due to the addition of glycerol facilitated the esterification of astaxanthin, thereby accelerating the biosynthesis of astaxanthin indirectly, which is indicated by the fact that exogenous glycerol enhanced astaxanthin esters content significantly under low light. All these results suggest that H. pluvialis has the ability to utilize glycerol for astaxanthin and lipid production under low light.

Enhancement of linoleic acid content stimulates astaxanthin esterification in Coelastrum sp.

Most natural astaxanthin is fatty acid-esterified in microalgae to prevent oxidation. However, the factors influencing astaxanthin esterification (AE) are poorly understood. In this study, obstacles to AE in Coelastrum sp. HA-1 were investigated. Only half of the astaxanthin molecules in HA-1 were esterified, but AE was stimulated with exogenous linoleic acid (LA) and ethanol treatment. Astaxanthin esters and total astaxanthin (TA) with exogenous LA were elevated to 3.82-fold and 2.18-fold of control levels, respectively. Treatment with 3% (v/v) ethanol enhanced transcription of the Δ12 fatty acid desaturase gene, which caused more oleic acid (OA) to be converted to LA. Furthermore, the contents of astaxanthin esters and TA were 2.42-fold and 1.61-fold control levels, respectively. These findings confirmed that AE was upregulated by increasing LA content. Thus, a large concentration of OA alone does not increase astaxanthin accumulation in HA-1, and a certain amount of LA was necessary for AE.

Determining the Potential of Haematococcus pluvialis Oleoresin as a Rich Source of Antioxidants.

Haematococcus pluvialis is known to be a natural source of antioxidants for numerous applications. In this study, an oleoresin rich in carotenoids extracted by supercritical CO2 treatment of H. pluvialis was extensively characterized for its antioxidant capacity. Carotenoid content, fatty acid profile, total phenol content, antioxidant capacity, and viscosity of the oleoresin were determined with the aim of ascertaining the potential of the oleoresin in terms of its antioxidant content for food applications. The oleoresin contained 96.22 mg/g of total astaxanthin (which includes free astaxanthin and astaxanthin esters) and mostly included unsaturated fatty acids (~78% of total fatty acids). High total phenol content and ferric reducing antioxidant potential indicated high antioxidant capacity, but oxygen radical absorbance capacity was lower compared to the oleoresin samples obtained from other species. The oleoresin was a non-Newtonian fluid since it had shear-thinning (pseudoplastic) and shear-thickening (dilatant) flow. Therefore, the H. pluvialis oleoresin is a potential alternative in developing functional ingredients for designing healthy food products. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has reported an extensive characterization of the antioxidant properties of a microalgal oleoresin obtained by means of supercritical CO2 fluid extraction.

Effects of Drying Methods on the Content, Structural Isomers, and Composition of Astaxanthin in Antarctic Krill.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is one of the important bioresources in Antarctic waters, containing many bioactives (e.g., astaxanthin), which have a highly potential value for commercial exploitation. In this study, the effects of processing methods on the content, structural isomers, and composition of astaxanthins (free astaxanthin and astaxanthin esters) were studied. Three drying methods, comprising freeze-drying, microwave drying, and hot-air drying, were used. Free astaxanthin (Ast), astaxanthin monoesters (AM), and astaxanthin diesters (AD) in boiled krill (control) and dried krill were extracted and analyzed using high-resolution mass spectrometry with ultraviolet detection. After the three processes, total astaxanthin loss ranged from 8.6 to 64.9%, and the AM and AD contents ranged from 78.3 to 16.6 and 168.7 to 90.5 μg/g, respectively. Compared to other kinds of astaxanthin esters, astaxanthin esters, which linked to eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, as well as the Ast, were more easily degraded, and AM was more susceptible to degradation than AD. All-E-astaxanthin easily transformed to the 13Z-astaxanthin than to the 9Z-astaxanthin during the drying process, but the proportions of optical isomers changed due to drying by no more than 5%. The results suggested that freeze-drying, low-power microwave drying (≤1 kW), and low-temperature hot-air drying (≤60 °C) are optimal drying methods for ensuring the quality of krill products.

Reversible colony formation and the associated costs in Scenedesmus obliquus

AbstractGrazer-induced colony formation as a defense strategy in microalgae such as Scenedesmus species has been widely reported, but the associated costs and reversibility of the colonies are rarely studied. We experimentally showed that Scenedesmus obliquus formed chained colonies in the presence of a predator, including predators separated from the algae by a membrane, but quickly reverted to single cells after the removal of the predator—a defining characteristic of an inducible defense. We detected stress indicators—astaxanthin esters—in the algal populations in the presence of grazers but not when grazers were absent. We found significant costs associated with S. obliquus colony formation in terms of lower population growth rate, lower photosystem II efficiency and lower cellular chlorophyll a content. These results together show that colony formation as an inducible defense in S. obliquus against grazers comes at a substantial cost such that the defense must be switched off and the colonies revert to single cells when the predation risk disappears.

The Discrepancy of Fatty Acid Composition of Astaxanthin Esters and Total Fatty Acids in Photoautotrophic and Heterotrophic Chlorella zofingiensis

Abstract Chlorella zofingiensis has great potential for astaxanthin and fatty acid production. This study investigated the accumulation of astaxanthin and total fatty acids (TFA), the fatty acid compositions of astaxanthin esters and TFA in photoautotrophic and heterotrophic C. zofingiensis, respectively. The results displayed that in photoautotrophic cells, 18:3 was the most predominant fatty acid, followed by 16:0, 18:2, and 18:1, while astaxanthin mono‐esters (mono‐AE) contained only 16:0 and 18:0, and astaxanthin di‐esters (di‐AE) contained 16:0 mostly, followed by 18:1, 18:0, 18:2, and 18:3. C. zofingiensis accumulated the highest level of astaxanthin and TFA under heterotrophic conditions fed with 30 g L−1 glucose. The percentage of 18:1 in TFA, mono‐AE, and di‐AE increased from 10.05%, 0%, and 17.76% to 35.80%, 14.84%, and 50.12%, respectively; in contrast, the percentages of 18:3 in TFA and di‐AE were observed to decrease from 40.42% and 7.59% to 9.56% and 1.30%, respectively, in comparison with those in photoautotrophic ones. The RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) results showed that the expressions of the genes in astaxanthin and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways were increased under this heterotrophic condition. These results indicated differential accumulation of AE and TFA, especially fatty acid compositions of TFA and AE in photoautotrophic and heterotrophic cells, suggesting a positive correlation between astaxanthin and fatty acid biosynthesis.

Synthesis of Lutein and Astaxanthin Esters and Their In Silico Activity

Esters of individual natural carotenoids lutein and astaxanthin with benzoic, 4-methylbenzoic, nicotinic, and mandelic acids have been synthesized. The esterification reaction of carotenoids has been carried out in an anhydrous medium at 37°C using of Novozyme 435 biocatalyst. The in silico prediction of the products activity by means of molecular docking has identified two compounds promising regarding the action towards the retinal protein Stard3 PDP code 5I9J.

Thermal stability and oral absorbability of astaxanthin esters from Haematococcus pluvialis in Balb/c mice.

Astaxanthin is used as a functional nutraceutical and pigment in many food products. It is mostly exists in the form of a fatty acid ester in nature. However, no detailed descriptions are available concerning the stability and oral absorbability of astaxanthin esters. In the present study, the thermal stability and absorbability of astaxanthin esters from Haematococcus pluvialis were evaluated in comparison with free-form astaxanthin. The thermal stability of astaxanthin esters was found to be higher than that of free-form astaxantin. After gavage with astaxanthin esters, only free-form astaxanthin was detected in the digestive tract wall, blood plasma and liver, indicating that astaxanthin esters must be hydrolyzed to free-form astaxanthin in the gut before absorption. Furthermore, there was a considerable selective accumulation of different astaxanthin isomers in Balb/c mice, which selectivity decreased in the order: 13-cis> all-trans>9-cis. Accumulated astaxanthin was mainly distributed in the heart, liver, spleen, muscle and adipose tissue, although significant differences between tissues were observed. From the present study, it can be concluded that astaxanthin esters had a higher thermal stability and higher bioavailability than free-form astaxanthin. These results provide important evidence with respect to using astaxanthin esters as bioactive components to replace free-form astaxanthin in functional food products. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of Antarctic Krill Oil on Astaxanthin in Rat Serum

To explore whether the antarctic krill oil has an impact on astaxanthin ester absorption process, provide scientific basis and theoretical support for the development and application of Antarctic krill oil in functional food or special medical food. Methods: 150 Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: blank control group, 0.208g oil/kg.bw Antarctic krill oil group, 1.25mg/kg body wt of astaxanthin group, 1.25mg/kg body wt of astaxanthin+0.208g oil/kg.bw Antarctic krill oil group and 1.25mg/kg body wt of astaxanthin+0.208g oil/kg.bw Fish oil group.Samples were collected at ten time points(0, 0.5,1,2,4,8,10,12,16,24h) after administering a single oral dose corresponding to rats via the intragastric gavage mode and the astaxanthin concentrations in samples were detected using Hplc.Results: The maximum concentration of astaxanthin in the serum of ASTA- krill oil group was delayed by 6 h compared with the ASTA group. The highest concentration of ASTA- krill oil group in serum was was 5.3 times of ASTA- Fish oil group, which was 8.4 times that of ASTA group. The serum AUC values of ASTA-krill oil group,the ASTA group and the ASTA-Fish oil group were 108.39±2.34ug∙h/L, 14.35±0.21 ug∙h/L, 23.39±0.46 ug∙h/L, respectively., reflecting that the bioavailability of ASTA- krill oil in rats is higher than that of ASTA group, which is better than ASTA- Fish oil .Conclusion: The serum absorption rate of the ASTA- krill oil group are excellent. Antarctic krill oil promotes the bioavailability of astaxanthin and provides scientific basis and theoretical support for the development and application of functional foods or special medical foods.

Oxidation evaluation of free astaxanthin and astaxanthin esters in Pacific white shrimp during iced storage and frozen storage.

In this paper, the changes in free astaxanthin (F-AST) and astaxanthin esters (AST-Es) in Litopenaeus vannamei during iced storage and frozen storage were investigated. The liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was used to quantify the molecular species of AST-Es in shrimp during storage. Based on the analysis of autoxidation products, apo-12-astaxanthinal and apo-13-astaxanthinone docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ester were identified as the major oxidation products of F-AST and AST-Es in L. vannamei during storage. The total astaxanthin (T-AST) content decreased by 34.51% after 7 days in iced storage. In contrast, the content of T-AST decreased by 43.76% after 12 weeks in frozen storage. The content of F-AST decreased by 29.99% while 13-cis-astaxanthin increased after 3 days in iced storage, which indicated that degradation of AST was accompanied by isomerization. Total volatile basic nitrogen and T-AST content showed a significant negative correlation while in frozen storage, where the concentration of T-AST might be one indicator to evaluate shrimp freshness. The correlation coefficients between phenol oxidase, lipoxygenase, apo-12-astaxanthinal, and apo-13-astaxanthinone DHA ester were all greater than 0.97 (P < 0.01). This correlation indicates that phenol oxidase and lipoxygenase were the main internal factors to improve oxygenation of astaxanthin in L. vannamei. These results provide a theoretical basis for further study of oxidation and the degradation mechanism in astaxanthin, as well as a new idea for the development and utilization of astaxanthin compounds in Pacific white shrimp. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Accurate quantification of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis using DMSO extraction and lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis pretreatment

Haematococcus pluvialis accumulates high contents of astaxanthin and is considered as an important source of natural astaxanthin production. Fast and accurate quantification of astaxanthin is needed to evaluate the quality of microalgal sources for astaxanthin extraction and to monitor the H. pluvialis cultivation process. In the present study, a less-invasive method for astaxanthin accurate quantification was developed. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as an extraction solvent to improve the membrane permeability of H. pluvialis. Cholesterol esterase was used to hydrolyze astaxanthin esters via incubation at 36 °C for 30 min. The detection of astaxanthin after hydrolysis was achieved by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) within 10 min using a C18 column. The astaxanthin content measurements after enzymatic pretreatment were 1.5–1.7 times higher than that measured after saponified pretreatment. DMSO solvent extraction combined with lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis followed by HPLC detection is proposed for the accurate quantification of astaxanthin in H. pluvialis.

Efficient heterologous expression of an alkaline lipase and its application in hydrolytic production of free astaxanthin

BackgroundAstaxanthin, a naturally occurring carotenoid pigment molecule, displays strong antioxidant, anti-cancer, and immunity-enhancing properties, and is often utilized in food, biomedical, cosmetic, and other industries. Free astaxanthin has better solubility than astaxanthin esters (Ast-E), and is a useful auxiliary ingredient in health foods and medicines. Our goal was to establish an improved enzymatic method for preparation of free astaxanthin from natural sources (e.g., the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis), to expand the potential applications of free astaxanthin.ResultsThe alkaline lipase gene proalip and its propeptide were cloned and successfully fusion-expressed in Pichia pastoris X-33. The recombinant lipase was termed Lipase-YH. Through optimization of culture conditions (medium formulation, pH, added methanol concentration), cell growth (OD600) and secreted enzyme activity respectively reached to 280 and 2050 U/mL in a 50-L autofermentor. Activity of Lipase-YH enzyme powder was about 40,000 U/g. Hydrolysis of Ast-E (extracted from H. pluvialis) by Lipase-YH occurred in aqueous phase, and reaction conditions were optimized based on emulsification method and enzyme/substrate ratio. The highest enzymatic reaction rate was observed for substrate concentration 200 μg/mL, with maximal free astaxanthin yield (80%) at 1 h, and maximal Ast-E hydrolysis rate 96%, as confirmed by TLC, HPLC, and mass spectroscopy.ConclusionA novel, efficient enzymatic process was developed for production of free astaxanthin through hydrolysis of Ast-E. Lipase activity was enhanced, and production cost was greatly reduced. The unique structure of free astaxanthin allows linkage to various functional compounds, which will facilitate development of novel pharmaceutical and food products in future studies.

Melatonin enhances astaxanthin accumulation in the green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis by mechanisms possibly related to abiotic stress tolerance

Melatonin (N‑acetyl‑5‑methoxytryptamine) is widely regarded as an important messenger in higher plants and mammals in their resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the role of melatonin in microalgae has been rarely investigated. In this study, melatonin was first used to promote astaxanthin biosynthesis under limited nitrogen and high light conditions. The interactions between melatonin and the secondary messengers, namely, nitric oxide (NO) and salicylic acid (SA), during the stress response were also investigated. Moreover, fatty acid biosynthesis was explored. Finally, the expression levels of astaxanthin biosynthesis genes in Haematococcus pluvialis LUGU supplemented with melatonin were simultaneously monitored through quantitative real-time PCR. The astaxanthin content of the microalgae increased 2.36-fold after treatment with 10 μM of melatonin. The maximal astaxanthin content achieved was 31.32 mg g−1. The increased NO and SA production caused by melatonin occurred in parallel with the up-regulation of the expression of astaxanthin biosynthesis genes and the enhancement in astaxanthin biosynthesis in H. pluvialis LUGU. The analysis of fatty acid composition showed that melatonin stimulated the production of C16:0 (palmitic acid); thus, the percentage of astaxanthin esters was higher than that observed in the control algae. Furthermore, the inhibitors, namely, carboxy-PTIO, paclobutrazol, and N‑acetyl‑l‑cysteine, significantly suppressed the levels of secondary messengers. Meanwhile, the role of melatonin in mediating the rise in astaxanthin content was prevented when the SA- and NO-dependent pathways were inhibited. These findings indicate that melatonin plays a physiological role in direct and indirect responses to abiotic stresses in H. pluvialis.

Hydrolytic efficiency and isomerization during de-esterification of natural astaxanthin esters by saponification and enzymolysis

Background: Astaxanthin from natural sources is typically esterified with fatty acids; hence, it must be hydrolyzed to remove esters before identification and quantification by conventional HPLC. Alkaline-catalyzed saponification and enzyme-catalyzed enzymolysis are the most commonly used de-esterification methods. However, information on the efficiency and isomerization during de-esterification of natural astaxanthin esters by these two methods remains scarce. Therefore, we conducted two HPLC-based experiments to determine which method is better for hydrolyzing astaxanthin esters. Results: To assess the effect of enzymolysis (0.67 U/mL cholesterol esterase, at 37°C) and saponification (0.021 M NaOH, at 5°C) conditions on free astaxanthin recovery and destruction or structural transformation of astaxanthin, we varied the total treatment time across a range of 195 min. The results showed that enzymolysis and saponification were complete in 60 min and 90 min, respectively. After complete hydrolysis, the maximum free astaxanthin recovery obtained by enzymolysis was 42.6% more than that obtained by saponification. The identification of by-products, semi-astacene and astacene, during the process of saponification also indicated that a more severe degradation of astaxanthin occurred during saponification. Moreover, the composition of astaxanthin isomers during saponification was similar to that of the isomers during enzymolysis between 30 min and 75 min (all-trans:9-cis:13-cis = 21:3:1, approximately) but dramatically changed after 90 min, whereas the composition in the enzymolysis treatment remained relatively stable throughout. Conclusion: Compared with saponification, enzymolysis with cholesterol esterase was recommended as a more accurate method for de-esterification of natural astaxanthin esters for further qualitative and quantitative HPLC analysis.

Gene expression profiling of astaxanthin and fatty acid pathways in Haematococcus pluvialis in response to different LED lighting conditions

Haematococcus pluvialis is a green microalga of major interest to industry based on its ability to produce large amounts of astaxanthin. Biosynthesis of astaxanthin and its mono- and di-esters was significantly stimulated under 150 μmol m−2 s−1 of white LED (W-150) compared with lower light intensities, but the highest astaxanthin amounts were produced under 70 μmol m−2 s−1 of blue LED (B-70). Transcripts of astaxanthin biosynthesis genes psy, crtO, and bkt2 were upregulated under W-150, while psy, lcy, crtO, and crtR-B were upregulated by B-70. Total fatty acid content and biosynthesis genes fata and all dgat genes were induced under W-150, while C18:3n6 biosynthesis and dgat2a expression were specifically stimulated by B-70 which was correlated to astaxanthin ester biosynthesis. Nitrogen starvation, various LEDs and the identified upregulated genes may provide useful tools for future metabolic engineering to significantly increase free astaxanthin, its esters and fatty acid precursors in H. pluvialis.

Fatty acids and astaxanthin composition of two edible native Mexican crayfish &lt;em&gt;Cambarellus (C.) montezumae&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Procambarus (M.) bouvieri&lt;/em&gt;

The content and composition of the fatty acids (FAs) and astaxanthin (AST) in the edible forms of crayfish: the whole animal of Cambarellus (C.) montezumae , and the tail meat (TM) of Procambarus (M.) bouvieri were determined by GC and HPLC. The exoskeleton (EXK) of P. (M.) bouvieri was also studied. Unsaturated FAs, and mostly oleic acid (C18:1 n-9), were predominant in both edible forms. The contents of the polyunsaturated eicosapentaenoic (C20:5 n-3, EPA), arachidonic (C20:4 n-6, ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n-3, DHA), were higher in the TM of P. (M.) bouvieri than in the complete C. (C.) montezumae (p -1 and 66.3 ± 3.91 μg·g -1 , and were composed mainly of AST ( > 79.50%). AST esters were enriched with saturated FAs in C. (C.) montezumae and with PUFAs in EXK of P. (M.) bouvieri . We conclude that both C. (C.) montezumae and the TM of P. (M.) bouvieri are traditional foods rich in n-3 PUFAs and C. (C.) montezumae in AST. The EXK of P. (M.) bouvieri is a rich potential source of AST, n-3 PUFAs, and the combination AST-DHA.

Characterization and storage stability of astaxanthin esters, fatty acid profile and α-tocopherol of lipid extract from shrimp (L. vannamei) waste with potential applications as food ingredient

In this work a lipid extract from shrimp waste was obtained and characterized. The most abundant fatty acids found were C16:0, C18:2n6c, C18:1n9c, C22:6n3, and C20:5n3. The extract contained all-trans-astaxanthin, two cis-astaxanthin isomers, 5 astaxanthin monoesters, and 10 astaxanthin diesters (7±1mg astaxanthin/g). C22:6n3 and C20:5n3 were the most frequent fatty acids in the esterified forms. Appreciable amounts of α-tocopherol and cholesterol were also found (126±11mg/g and 65±1mg/g, respectively). Little lipid oxidation was observed after 120days of storage at room temperature, revealed by a slight reduction of ω-3 fatty acids, but neither accumulation of TBARS nor formation of oxidized cholesterol forms was found. This is attributed to the antioxidant effect of astaxanthin and α-tocopherol, as their concentrations decreased as storage continued. The lipid extract obtained has interesting applications as food ingredient, owing to the coloring capacity and the presence of healthy components.