• ALGAE
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.193-202
• /
• 2013

Nitrogen availability and cell density each affects growth and cellular astaxanthin content of Haematococcus pluvialis, but possible combined effects of these two factors on the content and productivity of astaxanthin, especially under outdoor culture conditions, is less understood. In this study, the effects of the initial biomass densities IBDs of 0.1, 0.5, 0.8, 1.5, 2.7, 3.5, and 5.0 g $L^{-1}$ DW and initial nitrogen concentrations of 0, 4.4, 8.8, and 17.6 mM nitrate on growth and cellular astaxanthin content of H. pluvialis Flotow K-0084 were investigated in outdoor glass column photobioreactors in a batch culture mode. A low IBD of 0.1 g $L^{-1}$ DW led to photo-bleaching of the culture within 1-2 days. When the IBD was 0.5 g $L^{-1}$ and above, the rate at which the increase in biomass density and the astaxanthin content on a per cell basis was higher at lower IBD. When the IBD was optimal (i.e., 0.8 g $L^{-1}$), the maximum astaxanthin content of 3.8% of DW was obtained in the absence of nitrogen, whereas the maximum astaxanthin productivity of 16.0 mg $L^{-1}\;d^{-1}$ was obtained in the same IBD culture containing 4.4 mM nitrogen. The strategies for achieving maximum Haematococcus biomass productivity and for maximum cellular astaxanthin content are discussed.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.3_spc
• /
• pp.443-448
• /
• 2021

Objective: Astaxanthin is a natural super antioxidant. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of astaxanthin rich Phaffia rhodozyma (PR) supplementation in diets on laying production performance, egg quality, antioxidant defenses and immune defenses in laying hens. Methods: A total of five hundred and twelve 60-week-old Lohmann Brown laying hens (2,243±12 g) were randomly assigned to four groups, each including 4 replicates with 32 birds per replicate. Astaxanthin rich PR was added to corn-soybean meal diets to produce experimental diets containing 0 (Control), 800 mg/kg, 1,200 mg/kg, and 1,600 mg/kg PR, respectively. The astaxanthin content in the diet was 0.96 mg/kg, 1.44 mg/kg and 1.92 mg/kg respectively. Results: Results showed that dietary PR supplementation tended to increase daily feed intake (p = 0.0512). There was no effect of astaxanthin rich PR on Haugh units, albumen height, egg shape index, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness at weeks 6 (p>0.05). However, egg yolk color was significantly improved (p<0.05). In addition, astaxanthin rich PR supplementation significantly increased serum glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity (p<0.05), increased serum immunoglobulin G content (p<0.05), and reduced malondialdehyde content (p<0.05) in laying hens. Conclusion: In conclusion, astaxanthin rich PR can improve the color of egg yolk, enhance the antioxidant defenses, and regulate the immune function.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.1024-1030
• /
• 2001

The key factors for high-density Haematococcus pluvialis cultures and conditions for astaxanthin induction were examined to maximize astaxanthin production. Light intensity was found to be the most important factor, and thus experiments were found to be the most important factor, and thus experiments were carried out using different light sources and intensities. A high cell density of over 2.7 g/l was obtained at $75{\mu}E/m^2/s$, whereas a much lower cell concentration (<1.0 g/ 1) was obtained with lower light intensities $(15-30{\mu}E/m^2/s$. A high light intensity and the supplement of 470 nm photons had a more dramatic effect on the final astaxanthin concentration and per cell astaxanthin content. A maximum astaxanthin concentration of 6.5 mg/l was obtained at a light intensity of $160{\mu}E/m^2/s$, whereas only 1.3 and 0.7 mg/l were obtained at 30 and $15{\mu}E/m^2/s$, respectively. A supplement of 470 nm photons enhanced the carotenoid and chlorophyll formation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.799-805
• /
• 2010

Since the consumption of spent laying hens as roasted skewered meat increases, the effects of various carotenoids on pigmentation and antioxidant activity were tested with 62-wk-old 250 ISA brown laying hens to improve the quality of chicken meat. In a 6-wk feeding trial, 4 carotenoids with different polarity (${\beta}$-8-apo-carotenoic acid ethyl ester (ACAEE)>astaxanthin>canthaxanthin>${\beta}$-carotene) at 100 mg carotenoid/kg feed were used. The more polar the carotenoids, the higher were the levels in blood. After 5-wk adaptation, the concentrations of astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and ACAEE in blood were -4 ${\mu}g/ml$. Canthaxanthin decreased significantly (p<0.05) the level of total blood cholesterol. Decreases in blood triglyceride by all carotenoids used were significant. ACAEE and astaxanthin tended to increase skin yellowness of thigh, breast, and wing proportionally to feeding period. In the case of polar carotenoids (ACAEE and astaxanthin), the longer the period of feeding, the higher the accumulation in skin was observed. Only astaxanthin was effective against the production of lipid peroxides in skin. Conclusively, out of the commercially available carotenoids we tested, astaxanthin is recommended for pigmentation of skin and inhibition of lipid oxidation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.12
• /
• pp.1990-1996
• /
• 2008

Astaxanthin has shown antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities; however, its molecular action and mechanism in the nervous system have yet to be elucidated. We examined the in vitro effects of astaxanthin on the production of nitric oxide (NO), as well as the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Astaxanthin inhibited the expression or formation of nitric oxide (NO), iNOS and COX-2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. Astaxanthin also suppressed the protein levels of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. These results suggest that astaxanthin, probably due to its antioxidant activity, inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators by blocking iNOS and COX-2 activation or by the suppression of iNOS and COX-2 degradation.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.31-40
• /
• 2014

The production of astaxanthin in the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis has been investigated using a sequential methodology based on the application of two types of statistical designs. The employed preliminary experiment was a fractional factorial design $2^6$ in which the factors studied were: excessive irradiance and nitrate starvation, phosphate deficiency, acetate supplementation, salt stress, and elevated temperature. The experimental results indicate that the amount of astaxanthin accumulation in the cells can be enhanced by excessive irradiance and nitrate starvation whereas the other factors tested did not yield any enhancement. In the subsequent experiment, a central composite design was applied with four variables, light intensity, nitrate, phosphate, and acetate, at five levels each. The optimal conditions for the highest astaxanthin production were found to be $1040{\mu}E/(m^2{\cdot}s)$ light intensity, 0.04 g/L nitrate, 0.31 g/L phosphate, 0.05 g/L acetate concentration.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.19 no.11
• /
• pp.1355-1363
• /
• 2009

In the present study, the neuroprotective effects of astaxanthin on $H_2O_2$-mediated apoptotic cell death, using cultured mouse neural progenitor cells (mNPCs), were investigated. To cause apoptotic cell death, mNPCs were pretreated with astaxanthin for 8 h and followed by treatment of 0.3 mM $H_2O_2$. Pretreatment of mNPCs with astaxanthin significantly inhibited $H_2O_2$-mediated apoptosis and induced cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. In Western blot analysis, astaxanthin-pretreated cells showed the activation of p-Akt, p-MEK, p-ERK, and Bcl-2, and the reduction of p-P38, p-SAPK/JNK, Bax, p-GSK3b, cytochrome c, caspase-3, and PARP. Because $H_2O_2$ triggers caspases activation, this study examined whether astaxanthin can inhibit caspases activation in $H_2O_2$-treated mNPCs. After $H_2O_2$ treatment, caspases activities were prominently increased, but astaxanthin pretreatment significantly inhibited $H_2O_2$-mediated caspases activation. Astaxanthin pretreatment also significantly recovered the ATP production ability of $H_2O_2$-treated cells. These findings indicate that astaxanthin inhibits $H_2O_2$-mediated apoptotic features in mNPCs. Inhibition assays with SB203580 ($10\;{\mu}M$, a specific inhibitor of p38) and PD98059 ($10\;{\mu}M$, a specific inhibitor of MEK) clearly showed that astaxanthin can inhibit $H_2O_2$-mediated apoptotic death via modulation of p38 and MEK signaling pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.1339-1346
• /
• 2015

The aim of this study is to increase production of carotenoids in recombinant Escherichia coli by Archaea chaperonin. The carotenoids are a widely distributed class of structurally and functionally diverse yellow, orange, and red natural pigments. These pigments are synthesized in bacteria, algae, fungi, and plants, and have been widely used as a feed supplement from poultry rearing to aquaculture. Carotenoids also exhibit diverse biological properties, such as strong antioxidant and antitumor activities, and enhancement of immune responses. In the microbial world, carotenoids are present in both anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria and algae and in many fungi. We have previously reported cloning and functional analysis of the carotenoid biosynthesis genes from Paracoccus haeundaensis. The carotenogenic gene cluster involved in astaxanthin production contained seven carotenogenic genes (crtE, crtB, crtI, crtY, crtZ, crtW and crtX genes) and recombinant Escherichia coli harboring seven carotenogenic genes from Paracoccus haeundaensis produced 400 μg/g dry cell weight (DCW) of astaxanthin. In order to increase production of astaxanthin, we have co-expressed chaperone genes (ApCpnA and ApCpnB) in recombinant Escherichia coli harboring the astaxanthin biosynthesis genes. This engineered Escherichia coli strain containing both chaperone gene and astaxanthin biosynthesis gene cluster produced 890 μg/g DCW of astaxanthin, resulting 2-fold increased production of astaxanthin.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.12
• /
• pp.1764-1770
• /
• 2008

The goal of this study is to increase production of astaxanthin in recombinant Escherichia coli by engineered isoprenoid pathway. We have previously reported structural and functional analysis of the astaxanthin biosynthesis genes from a marine bacterium, Paracoccus haeundaensis. The carotenoid biosynthesis gene cluster involved in astaxanthin production contained six carotenogenic genes (crtW, crtZ, crtY, crtI, crtB, and crtE genes) and recombinant E. coli harboring six carotenogenic genes from P. haeundaensis produced 400 ${\mu}g$/g dry cell weight (DCW) of astaxanthin. In order to increase production of astaxanthin in recombinant E. coli, we have cloned 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (lytB), farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) synthase (ispA), and isopentenyl (IPP) diphossphate isomerase (idi) in the isoprenoid pathway from E. coli and coexpressed these genes in recombinant E. coli harboring the astaxanthin biosynthesis genes. This engineered E. coli strain containing both isoprenoid pathway gene and astaxanthin biosynthesis gene cluster produced 1,200 ${\mu}g$/g DCW of astaxanthin, resulting 3-fold increased production of astaxanthin.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.321-326
• /
• 2009

This study was to optimize the medium components for astaxanthin production in Paracoccus sp. through surface response methodology. A screening test was first conducted on 5 medium components using a Plackett-Burman design, from which $MgSO_4$ and yeast extract were identified as the significant factors affecting astaxanthin production. These significant factors were optimized by central composite design of experiments and response surface methodology, as 2.83 g/L $MgSO_4$ and 7.02 g/L yeast extract, respectively. The expected astaxanthin concentration with these optimized medium compositions were 0.925 mg/L. In flask culture, the experimentally obtained concentration of astaxantin was 1.021 mg/L, where it had been 0.4 mg/L before optimization.