Haematococcus pluvialis, source astaxanthin

In nature, astaxanthin is usually found either conjugated to proteins (as in the flesh of salmon or in the lobster carapace) or esterified with fatty acids (as in Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae). In contrast, synthetic astaxanthin is produced in the free form. Synthetic, algae-based, and yeast-based (from Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous) astaxanthins are distinct in their stereoisomeric compositions as well." Synthetic astaxanthin, as well as all three significant natural sources Haematococcus, Xanthophyllomyces, and extracted cmstacean shells), are used widely as feed additives." Human dietary astaxanthin supplements derived from these three natural sources have also been marketed in recent years. " ... 

D. salina and Haematococcus pluvialis are the main sources for commercial production of nonsynthetic beta-carotene [111] and astaxanthin, respectively. Other... 

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