Pharmacologic Substance
astaxanthin
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Definitions related to astaxanthin:
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A natural and synthetic xanthophyll and nonprovitamin A carotenoid, with potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, astaxanthin may act as an antioxidant and reduce oxidative stress, thereby preventing protein and lipid oxidation and DNA damage. By decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals, it may also prevent ROS-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) transcription factor and the production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1b), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a). In addition, astaxanthin may inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and nitric oxide (NO) activities, thereby reducing inflammation. Oxidative stress and inflammation play key roles in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cardiovascular, neurological, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Carotenoid having a chemical structure similar to beta-carotene with hydroxyl groups at the number 3 and 3' carbon atoms and carbonyl (C=O) functions at the number 4 and 4' carbon atoms.CRCH Nutrition TerminologyCancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, 2021
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