China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2019, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (10): 2981-2987.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2019.10.019

• Animal Nutrition and Feed Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Biological Function of Natural Astaxanthin and Its Application in Animal Production

GAO Shan1, GUO Yong1, CHEN Yu2, QI Xiaolong1   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China;
    2. Beijing General Station of Animal Husbandry, Beijing 100107, China
  • Received:2019-05-10 Online:2019-10-20 Published:2019-10-21

Abstract: Astaxanthin is a ketone carotenoid with many biological functions such as coloring,anti-oxidation,immunity enhancement and anti-cancer.Natural astaxanthin in poultry diet is digested,absorbed and transported by blood,liver and ovary, and eventually enriched in egg yolk to deepen yolk color.Meanwhile,due to its hydroxyl group and unsaturated ketone group,natural astaxanthin can effectively scavenge free radicals,increase the body's antioxidant enzyme activity,reduce the content of reactive oxygen and malondialdehyde,so as to reduce the oxidative stress damage.In addition,natural astaxanthin can improve the reproductive performance of animals by improving the semen quality and the secretion of reproductive hormones.Dietary natural astaxanthin not only brightens the skin color of aquatic animals,but also enhances immunity by participating in cellular and humoral immunity and inhibiting the inflammatory factor NF-κB signaling pathway.This paper briefly reviewed the structural characteristics,physicochemical properties,extraction and purification of astaxanthin,and its functions,such as coloring,anti-oxidation,improving immunity and anti-tumor were described in detail.In addition,the applications prospects of astaxanthin in livestock and aquaculture were analyzed aiming to lay a theoretical foundation for its further application in livestock production.

Key words: astaxanthin; biological function; application

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