Importance of Downstream Processing of Natural Astaxanthin for Pharmaceutical Application

Abstract

Astaxanthin (ASX) is a xanthophyll pigment considered as a nutraceutical with high antioxidant activity. Several clinical trials have shown the multiple health benefits of this molecule; therefore, it has various pharmaceutical industry applications. Commercial astaxanthin can be produced by chemical synthesis or through biosynthesis within different microorganisms. The molecule produced by the microorganisms is highly preferred due to its zero toxicity and superior therapeutic properties. However, the biotechnological production of the xanthophyll is not competitive against the chemical synthesis, since the downstream process may represent 70–80% of the process production cost. These operations denote then an opportunity to optimize the process and make this alternative more competitive. Since ASX is produced intracellularly by the microorganisms, high investment and high operational costs, like centrifugation and bead milling or high-pressure homogenization, are mainly used. In cell recovery, flocculation and flotation may represent low energy demanding techniques, whereas, after cell disruption, an efficient extraction technique is necessary to extract the highest percentage of ASX produced by the cell. Solvent extraction is the traditional method, but large-scale ASX production has adopted supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2), an efficient and environmentally friendly technology. On the other hand, assisted technologies are extensively reported since the cell disruption, and ASX extraction can be carried out in a single step. Because a high-purity product is required in pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical applications, the use of chromatography is necessary for the downstream process. Traditionally liquid-solid chromatography techniques are applied; however, the recent emergence of liquid-liquid chromatography like high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) coupled with liquid-solid chromatography allows high productivity and purity up to 99% of ASX. Additionally, the use of SC-CO2, coupled with two-dimensional chromatography, is very promising. Finally, the purified ASX needs to be formulated to ensure its stability and bioavailability; thus, encapsulation is widely employed. In this review, we focus on the processes of cell recovery, cell disruption, drying, extraction, purification, and formulation of ASX mainly produced in Haematococcus pluvialis, Phaffia rhodozyma, and Paracoccus carotinifaciens. We discuss the current technologies that are being developed to make downstream operations more efficient and competitive in the biotechnological production process of this carotenoid.

Carotenoids modulate stress tolerance and immune responses in aquatic animals

“…57,[61][62][63] The market price of microalgal-derived pigments, for instance, could fetch up to USD 7500 kg À1 , while synthetic equivalents may be proportionately cheaper at half the price (approximately USD 250-3000 kg À1 ). 64,65 Secondary carotenoids, such as canthaxanthin and astaxanthin, are amongst the priciest pigments on the market. Chemical synthesis for the production of synthetic carotenoids on an industrial scale involves a variety of generally complex reaction processes (i.e.…”

Nanotechnology-Abetted Astaxanthin Formulations in Multimodel Therapeutic and Biomedical Applications

“…As AXT is produced intracellularly and high-purity AXT is needed for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications, high operating costs are mostly encountered; thus, the cost of downstream processes is nearly 80% of the production cost. 25 , 26 An effective downstream process can reduce production costs and develop productivity.…”

“… a Abbreviations: ORAC-L assay, oxygen radical absorbing capacity assay for lipophilic compounds; PCL assay, photochemiluminescence assay; CAA assay, cellular antioxidant activity assay; DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; bioaccessibility, the amount of AXT available for absorption in the gut after the digestion process; bioavailability, the amount of AXT which reaches the site of physiological activity after administration. 25 …”

“…Haematococcus pluvialis is a freshwater microalgae and is known as a great source of natural astaxanthin. , Many companies are producing natural AXT from algae, due to its mounting importance in the pharmaceutical industry. − A considerable challenge in biotechnological production of AXT is the downstream processes. As AXT is produced intracellularly and high-purity AXT is needed for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications, high operating costs are mostly encountered; thus, the cost of downstream processes is nearly 80% of the production cost. , An effective downstream process can reduce production costs and develop productivity.…”

Protective capacity of carotenoid trans-astaxanthin in rotenone-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster

“…The trans- and S-isomers are more stable than the Cis-isomer with higher bioactivity 14 . TA possesses much higher bioactivity than other carotenoids owing to its inherent polar ends [hydroxy (OH) and keto (C=O) on both terminal ends and nonpolar central moiety (polyene system or conjugated carbon–carbon double bonds (–C=C–C=C–)] in its chemical structure 12 , 15 . Therefore, the polyene system allows it to intercalate and also cross the BBB 16 .…”