I-Astaxanthin iyi-keto carotenoid ekhishwe ku-Haematococcus Pluvialis futhi iyancibilika ngamafutha. Itholakala kabanzi emhlabeni wezinto eziphilayo, ikakhulukazi ezimpapheni zezilwane zasemanzini njengezimfanzi, izinkalankala, izinhlanzi nezinyoni, futhi inendima ekunikezeni imibala. Zidlala indima emibili ezitshalweni nolwelwe, zimunca amandla okukhanya e-photosynthesis futhi zivikele. chlorophyll kusuka emonakalweni okhanyayo. Sithola ama-carotenoid ngokudla okugcinwa esikhumbeni, ukuvikela isikhumba sethu ekulimaleni kwezithombe.
Ucwaningo luthole ukuthi i-astaxanthin iyi-antioxidant enamandla esebenza ngokuphindwe ka-1,000 kune-vitamin E ekuhlanzeni ama-radicals mahhala akhiqizwa emzimbeni. Ama-radicals amahhala awuhlobo lwe-oxygen engazinzile ehlanganisa ama-electron angabhanqiwe aphila ngokungenisa ama-electron avela kwamanye ama-athomu. Uma i-radical yamahhala isabela nge-molecule ezinzile, iguqulwa ibe i-molecule yamahhala yamahhala, eqala ukusabela kweketanga yezinhlanganisela zama-radical mahhala. ama-radicals mahhala. I-Astaxanthin inesakhiwo samangqamuzana esiyingqayizivele kanye nomthamo omuhle kakhulu we-antioxidant.