Astaxanthin chemical structure

The success of the carotenoid extracts led to the commercialization of synthetic carotenoids, some with the same chemical structure as those in the plant extracts and others with modifications to improve their technological properties. The yellow beta-carotene was synthesized in 1950, followed by the orange beta-8-carotenal in 1962 and the red canthaxanthin in 1964. A number of others soon followed, methyl and ethyl esters of carotenoic acid, citraxanthin, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, and recently lutein. 

Figure 8.4 Chemical structures of common carotenoids important to animal-based food products. A = p-carotene B = zeaxanthin C = lutein D = canthaxanthin E = astaxanthin.

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