Krill oil, derived from Antarctic krill () species, is drawing increased attention due to its distinct composition, being rich in omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, and astaxanthin. Recent studies highlight the potential benefits of krill oil as a dietary supplement for enhancing various health-related factors. Research indicates that supplementing with krill oil positively affects markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, muscle function, glucose metabolism, and lipid profiles. Additionally, advancements in encapsulation technologies aim to optimize the delivery and efficacy of krill oil supplements. The review outlines the selection of emulsifiers and wall materials, along with techniques employed in creating four novel encapsulation methods for krill oil: micro/nanoemulsions, microcapsules, liposomes, and nanostructured lipid carriers. The review also provides scientific literature on the physiological impacts and underlying mechanisms of krill oil supplementation. It explores its influence on glucose homeostasis, oxidative stress responses, inflammatory pathways, lipid metabolism, and muscle physiology.

Recent studies have shown that the Z-isomers of carotenoids have higher bioavailability and potentially greater biological activity than the naturally predominant all-E-isomers. Therefore, the development of a safe and efficient isomerization method is required. In this study, a riboflavin-mediated photoisomerization technique was established for increasing the Z-isomer ratio of carotenoids. Initially, to understand the riboflavin-mediated photoisomerization characteristics of carotenoids, the effects of the reaction conditions (e.g., riboflavin concentration, photoirradiation wavelength, and solvent type) on the isomerization and degradation of lycopene were studied, and the total Z-isomer ratio was successfully increased by >50 %. Riboflavin-mediated photoisomerization was also observed in other carotenoids, that is, β-carotene, lutein, astaxanthin, and fucoxanthin. Subsequently, the riboflavin-mediated photoisomerization of lycopene was investigated using quantum chemical calculations, which indicated that the isomerization proceeded via triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) from excited riboflavin to lycopene.

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a significant risk factor for sunburn (solar erythema) and skin cancer. Current treatments focus primarily on symptom relief, making the need for new therapeutic approaches urgent. Xanthophylls, a class of natural pigments with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, show promise in the management of UV burns. This review aimed to systematically analyze the potential of xanthophylls for the management of UV burns, evaluating their efficacy in clinical and experimental studies. A literature review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted in the PUBMED, Virtual Health Library and EMBASE databases for eligible articles, using combinations of keywords such as astaxanthin, lutein, fucoxanthin and their effects on burns. Three independent reviewers conducted the search and selection of studies with inclusion criteria that addressed the use of xanthophylls in the treatment of burns, their mechanisms of action, pathophysiology and therapeutic approaches. Systematic reviews, letters, conference abstracts and case reports were excluded, considering only articles published in English. The articles were pre-selected by reading titles and abstracts, and the pre-selected studies were read in full for the final selection. Xanthophylls with potential benefits were identified, highlighting lutein, astaxanthin and violaxanthin, which demonstrated antioxidant activity by reducing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitigating inflammatory responses in skin cells exposed to UV radiation. Furthermore, evidence suggests that these xanthophylls promote skin barrier function and accelerate healing, enhancing recovery from UV burns. In conclusion, this review suggests a promising role for xanthophylls in alleviating UV burn symptoms and promoting skin healing. However, further research, including in vivo studies and clinical trials, is needed to validate its therapeutic potential, determine the optimal dosage, and optimize its delivery for effective UV burn control.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting cognitive and social functions all over childhood. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a common food additive associated with ADHD-like symptoms in children. Nutraceuticals, like sesamol (SE) and astaxanthin (AST), or physical activity (PHA) were reported to possess beneficial effects on human health. Meanwhile, still their neuroprotective effect against ADHD has been poorly investigated. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SE, AST and PHA either separately or combined on ADHD-like behaviors induced by MSG in rat pups. Eighty-four male Sprague Dawley rat pups were randomly allocated into seven groups; control, MSG, (PHA + MSG), (SE + MSG), (AST + MSG), (SE + AST + MSG), and (COMB [PHA + SE + AST] + MSG) and treated for eight weeks. MSG-induced ADHD-like behavior was evaluated, via assessing behavioral outcomes; neurotransmitters' levels; five pathway biomarkers, coupled with histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Rats exposed to PHA or treated with SE or AST either separately or combined exhibited enhanced attention, locomotor, and cognitive abilities, compared to MSG-intoxicated group. All treatments remarkably improved MSG-induced abnormalities in neurotransmitters' levels; biochemical markers; along with histological findings, via modulating HMGB1/RAGE/JAK-2/STAT-3, PI3K/AKT/CREB/BDNF, AMPK/SIRT-1 and PERK/CHOP pathways. Nevertheless, the combination of PHA with nutraceuticals (SE and AST) elicited more favorable effects in all measured parameters and histological findings, compared to other treated groups. In conclusion, this study revealed the superiority of the combination of nutraceuticals with PHA, over other standalone treatments, in amelioration of MSG-induced ADHD-like behaviors in rat pups, via fine-tuning of HMGB1/RAGE, PI3K/AKT/CREB/BDNF, AMPK/SIRT-1 and PERK/CHOP pathways.

Astaxanthin (ASTX), red-colored xanthophyll, also known as the "king of carotenoids" exhibits a strong antioxidant property that can be naturally found in green algae  red yeast , and various aquatic species including salmon, krill, trout, and fish eggs. Due to their strong antioxidant qualities, ASTX nanoparticles may be crucial in fighting against phytotoxicity caused by heavy metal ions. Similarly, it may also reduce the uptake of heavy metal, i.e. cadmium, and translocation by improving the morpho-physiological profiles of plants. Furthermore, it can also have the ability to scavenge free radicals, therefore, it can protect plants from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Implementing ASTX nanoparticles on crops can also help to achieve higher food production while minimizing toxic effects. Additionally, it can also possess several therapeutic activities including anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammation, hepatoprotective, and cardiovascular, etc. that can be beneficial to treat various types of diseases in humans and animals. Recently, it has gained more interest in food, agriculture, aquaculture, neutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical industries due to its wide range of applications including food-coloring agents, food supplements, and strong antioxidant property that helps in skin protection, and boosts immune function. However, ASTX possesses poor water solubility and chemical stability so the implementation of ASTX on human health is facing various issues. Therefore, nanoencapsulation of ASTX is very crucial to improve its chemical stability and solubility, ultimately leading to its bioavailability and bioaccessibility. Recently, ASTX has been commercially available with specific dosages in the market mainly in the form of tablets, gels, powders, creams, syrups, etc. The current review mainly highlights the present state of ASTX nanoparticle applications in various fields explaining its natural and synthetic sources, extraction methods, chemical structure, stability, nanoformulations, nano encapsulation, and various commercial aspects.

This study reports the first record of the genus Aplanochytrium on the coast of Chile, belonging to the class Labyrinthulomycetes in the kingdom Stramenopila. These marine protists play an essential role in carbon and nitrogen cycles as decomposers in the aquatic ecosystem. Although ecologically significant, their global diversity and distribution must be better understood. Samples were collected from Corral Bay, Valdivia, Chile, and later cultivated and identified through classical taxonomy and molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S rRNA sequence showed that Chilean samples were recovered in the Aplanochytrium s.s. lineage. Besides Aplanochytrium kerguelense Bahnweg & Sparrow, 1972, found in Kerguelen, an antarctic island from the Indian Ocean, this report extends the geographic distribution of the genus from Asia and the Northern Hemisphere to South America. This finding enhances our understanding of the diversity and distribution of Labyrinthulomycetes. Additionally, the fatty acid profile of Aplanochytrium revealed a high proportion of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), accounting for 50% of the total fatty acids, along with the presence of palmitic acid. Astaxanthin, a valuable pigment for biotechnological applications, was also quantified. These results highlight the importance of Labyrinthulomycetes in marine ecosystems and their potential in biotechnology.

Astaxanthin is an antioxidant with extremely high antioxidant activity. However, the stability and solubility of free astaxanthin are poor. Therefore, we prepared astaxanthin-betaine (ASTA-Bet) ionic liquid liposomes through a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental research and studied their physicochemical properties and biological effects. This liposome has good stability and skin permeability. The cumulative permeability of the ASTA-Bet ionic liquid liposome is 22.95 times that of free astaxanthin and 2.41 times that of the ASTA-Bet ionic liquid. The particle size of astaxanthin liposomes was 117.2 nm, and the particle size did not change significantly after 28 days of storage, indicating good stability. Compared with free astaxanthin, the ASTA-Bet ionic liquid liposome has good antioxidant activity and can exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the TGF-β1/smad2/smad3 pathway damaged by ultraviolet radiation, which may contribute to the resistance to ultraviolet radiation damage. Therefore, it can be used as a raw material to develop cosmetics with antiaging and anti-inflammatory functions.

Carotenoids are a group of tetraterpenoid natural products with a variety of physiological activities, which led to their application in food, cosmetics, agriculture, and other industries with broad market prospects. The fermentation of carotenoids using engineered microbial hosts has emerged as an efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly production method with significant potential for further development. (), an unconventional oleaginous yeast, has intrinsic advantages as a host strain for the production of carotenoids. This review outlines the functions of some well-studied carotenoids, including lycopene, β-carotene, and astaxanthin. Furthermore, the biotechnological strategies for carotenoid production in are categorized and summarized. Finally, potentially feasible future strategies for further improvement of carotenoid production in are also prospected.

(DS) is a prospective source of bioactive carotenoids, including beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids. The effect of dietary supplementation of DS on the productive performance, immune response, and egg quality of heat-stressed laying hens has not been comprehensively studied. We investigated how dietary supplementation affects the deposition of bioactive carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids in egg yolks of laying hens experiencing summer heat stress, as determined by the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI). The influence of supplementation on the productive performance, immune response, and antioxidant status of heat-stressed laying hens was assessed.

Skeletal muscle, as the largest organ in the body and the main protein pool, is crucial for various physiological processes, but atrophy of skeletal muscle can result from glucocorticoids, including dexamethasone, or from aging. Astaxanthin (AST) is a ketocarotenoid with a variety of physiological activities. However, the clinical application of AST is hampered by its strong hydrophobicity, intense off-flavors, and susceptibility to oxidation.