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Quick Specs
FormH. pluvialis Oleoresin
Purity5% or 10% (HPLC)
SourceHaematococcus pluvialis
Shelf life18 months (2–8°C)
MOQ1 kg (sample); 5 kg (commercial)
Nutraceuticals

Astaxanthin

Natural Keto-Carotenoid 5% & 10% Oleoresin Haematococcus pluvialis 6,000× Vitamin C ORAC
The world's most potent natural antioxidant — spanning cell membranes from inner to outer leaflet for total lipid peroxidation protection.
Astaxanthin (C₄₀H₅₂O₄, CAS 472-61-7) is a keto-carotenoid that gives the characteristic pink-red colour to salmon, shrimp, flamingos, and krill. Unlike other carotenoids, astaxanthin has both keto and hydroxyl groups on each of its terminal ionone rings, enabling it to span the full width of cellular membranes (anchoring at both the inner and outer phospholipid leaflets simultaneously) — a unique property that makes it an exceptionally effective membrane antioxidant. Natural astaxanthin from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis is the primary commercial source for supplement applications; synthetic astaxanthin (produced from petrochemical precursors) is used almost exclusively in aquaculture as an animal feed additive and is considered distinct in biology and regulation.

Astaxanthin is the most antioxidant-potent natural compound measured by ORAC assay: approximately 6,000× greater than vitamin C, 800× greater than CoQ10, 550× greater than vitamin E, and 75× greater than alpha-lipoic acid. This extraordinary potency, combined with its unique trans-membrane positioning and BBB penetration, underpins its clinical evidence in skin aging, sports performance, eye fatigue, and cardiovascular protection. SV Botanica supplies natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis, GMP/ISO certified, HPLC-tested for both total and free astaxanthin content.
Available specifications
    Quality Assurance

    Haematococcus pluvialis Source. Natural 3S,3'S Stereoisomer. HPLC-Confirmed.

    Every astaxanthin batch is tested by HPLC for total astaxanthin content, free vs esterified astaxanthin ratio, stereoisomer profile confirming natural origin, heavy metals, and marine contaminant panel. Cold-chain storage standard.

    01

    HPLC stereoisomer verification

    COA confirms predominantly 3S,3'S natural stereoisomer configuration (distinguishes natural H. pluvialis from synthetic racemic mixture); total and free astaxanthin separately quantified.

    02

    Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae sourcing

    Closed photobioreactor cultivation in certified GMP facilities; no marine contaminants; free of heavy metals, algal toxins, and pesticides; microalgae identity confirmed by microscopy and carotenoid profiling.

    03

    Marine contaminant panel

    Heavy metals panel includes mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium; tested for marine biotoxins and algal metabolites; microbial safety tested to USP standards.

    04

    Export documentation

    COA, MSDS, Certificate of Origin provided with every shipment; Halal/Kosher on request. Cold-chain logistics coordinated for all oleoresin grades.

    Formulation Intelligence

    Astaxanthin Buyer's Guide: Why Natural Beats Synthetic, Membrane Antioxidant Science & Application Dosing

    Astaxanthin holds a rare position in the nutraceutical world — the antioxidant potency claim is so extreme (6,000× vitamin C) that buyers often treat it with scepticism until they understand the structural chemistry behind it. And the natural vs synthetic distinction is more practically significant here than for almost any other nutraceutical, because regulatory access for human supplements is limited to the natural form in most major markets.

    Natural Grade

    Haematococcus pluvialis — 3S,3'S

    CAS 472-61-7 · Deep red oleoresin, 5% or 10% astaxanthin

    Predominantly 3S,3'S stereoisomer. Approved for human supplement use (EU Novel Food authorised, US GRAS, Japan approved). The only grade suitable for human supplement formulations. Esterified with fatty acids as it occurs naturally in the microalgae.

    Natural H. pluvialis is the only commercially available human-supplement-grade astaxanthin.
    Trans-Membrane Position

    How It Works in Membranes

    Molecular length ~3.4 nm — the full bilayer width

    The astaxanthin molecule is 3.4nm long — almost exactly the width of a phospholipid bilayer. The polar keto-hydroxyl groups at each end hydrogen-bond to the polar phosphate head groups on both leaflets simultaneously. This creates a molecular 'scaffold' that quenches lipid peroxidation chain reactions throughout the membrane cross-section. Compare: beta-carotene sits only in the hydrophobic core; lutein sits between the leaflets. Neither spans the full bilayer.

    This trans-membrane positioning explains astaxanthin's unique effectiveness vs other carotenoids.
    Skin Application

    Dose & Duration for Skin Benefits

    Clinical dose: 4–6 mg/day · Minimum duration: 8 weeks

    The most reliable skin evidence uses 4–6mg/day for 8–12 weeks minimum. Faster visible results at 6mg/day vs 4mg/day. Combine with collagen peptides (5–10g/day) for synergistic wrinkle and firmness outcomes. Vitamin C (500mg) adds cofactor support for collagen biosynthesis. Minimum purchase commitment for consumer trials: 3 months supply.

    Skin benefits are visible on clinical photography but subjective consumer perception typically takes 6–8 weeks minimum.
    Sports Application

    Performance & Recovery Dosing

    General recovery: 4 mg/day · Elite athletes: 12–20 mg/day

    Sports performance studies use higher doses: 4mg/day for general antioxidant recovery; 12–20mg/day for elite athletes (endurance sports). Mechanism: reduces exercise-induced mitochondrial ROS, preserves muscle membrane integrity during eccentric muscle contractions, and may improve fatty acid utilisation efficiency (sparing glycogen). Combine with Omega-3 EPA for complementary anti-inflammatory effect.

    Softgel format with krill or fish oil provides both astaxanthin and omega-3 in a single delivery vehicle — increasingly popular sports recovery product.
    Buyer FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Astaxanthin's antioxidant superiority has two independent explanations. First, its ORAC potency: astaxanthin quenches free radicals approximately 550× more effectively than vitamin E and 6,000× more than vitamin C by ORAC assay. This exceptional potency is attributed to the extended conjugated double-bond system combined with the keto and hydroxyl groups on each terminal ring, creating multiple quenching sites per molecule. Second, and arguably more important, is its unique membrane-spanning architecture: astaxanthin's polar keto groups at both ends of the molecule anchor simultaneously to both the inner and outer surfaces of the phospholipid bilayer, threading through the entire membrane. This positions the antioxidant at exactly the location where lipid peroxidation chain reactions initiate — within the membrane itself. No other carotenoid achieves this trans-membrane positioning: beta-carotene remains in the hydrophobic interior; lutein and zeaxanthin are positioned between the two leaflets. Astaxanthin's dual anchorage makes it uniquely effective at protecting membrane integrity.
    Natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis and synthetic astaxanthin differ in ways that are commercially, biologically, and regulatorily significant. Structurally: natural H. pluvialis astaxanthin is predominantly the 3S,3'S stereoisomer (with some 3S,3'R meso form), esterified with fatty acids; synthetic astaxanthin is a racemic mixture of 3S,3'S, 3R,3'R, and 3R,3'S stereoisomers in roughly equal proportions. Research suggests the natural S-isomer may have superior biological activity. Regulatory status: in most markets (EU, USA, Japan), natural H. pluvialis astaxanthin is approved for human consumption as a food supplement; synthetic astaxanthin is approved only for aquaculture feed use in most jurisdictions. For supplement manufacturers, specifying "Natural Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis" is both the regulatory requirement and the consumer-preferred positioning.
    Astaxanthin has one of the strongest clinical evidence bases of any nutraceutical for skin benefits. Multiple randomised controlled trials (primarily Japanese) using 4–6mg/day of natural astaxanthin for 8–16 weeks have demonstrated: wrinkle depth reduction (up to 54% improvement in crow's feet wrinkles in women); improvements in skin moisture content and transepidermal water loss; increased skin elasticity; reduced age spot size; and reduced UV-induced skin redness (photoprotection). The 2012 Tominaga et al. study (n=49) showed that 6mg/day astaxanthin for 10 weeks significantly improved skin moisture, elasticity, wrinkle depth, and UV spot appearance. The mechanism involves: quenching UV-generated singlet oxygen in skin tissue, reducing UV-induced MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) activation that degrades collagen, and protecting skin mitochondrial function. These results make astaxanthin one of the best-evidenced "beauty from within" ingredients.
    The majority of human clinical studies use 4–8mg/day of natural astaxanthin from H. pluvialis oleoresin. Specific dose-response data: skin health studies use 4–6mg/day; sports performance studies use 4–20mg/day (higher doses for elite athletes); eye accommodation and visual fatigue studies use 6–12mg/day; cardiovascular studies use 6–18mg/day; cognitive studies use 12mg/day. Consumer supplement products most commonly deliver 4mg (standard serving) or 12mg (sports/clinical dose) per softgel. Astaxanthin is safe in human studies at doses up to 40mg/day with no serious adverse events. The most common commercial format is a 4mg or 6mg softgel with vegetable oil (to support bioavailability of this highly lipophilic carotenoid). Always formulate in softgels with oil — tablet or capsule formats without lipid excipients have significantly reduced astaxanthin bioavailability.
    Astaxanthin is highly compatible with other skin health nutraceuticals and the combinations are increasingly popular in the beauty supplement market. Evidence-based combinations include: (1) Astaxanthin + Collagen Peptides — astaxanthin reduces collagen degradation (via MMP inhibition) while collagen peptides provide the substrate for collagen synthesis; studies on this combination show synergistic skin benefits; (2) Astaxanthin + Vitamin C — vitamin C is the essential cofactor for collagen synthesis, and both have complementary antioxidant mechanisms (vitamin C is water-phase, astaxanthin is lipid-phase); (3) Astaxanthin + Lutein/Zeaxanthin — comprehensive skin + eye carotenoid protection; (4) Astaxanthin + Omega-3 Fish Oil — both accumulate in skin; omega-3 EPA is anti-inflammatory in skin tissue while astaxanthin provides oxidative protection. The softgel format accommodates all these oil-soluble and fat-soluble ingredients naturally in a single delivery vehicle.
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