Xantofilas Marinhas Bioativas: fucoxantina e astaxantina, uma revisão das suas atividades biológicas

Abstract

Currently, there is much interest in active biological compounds derived from natural resources, especially when it comes to compounds that act on several molecular targets in an efficient manner, and therefore affected in several diseases. The importance of seaweed as a source of present ingredients has been well recognized due to its valuable beneficial health effects. Thus, the isolation and investigation of new molecules with biological activities of marine algae origin have attracted great attention. Among the various compounds, xanthophylls are an excellent choice for the production of compounds. Xanthophylls are a large group of carotenoids, photosynthetic pigments desired by chloroplasts. Carotenoids are hydrocarbons capable of absorbing ultraviolet, violet and blue light and carrying electrons for chlorophyll. Xanthophylls, on the other hand, have a molecular structure similar to carotenes, but with a presence of oxygen atoms in their composition, and for this reason, they are called oxycarotenoids. Some examples of xanthophylls are: zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, spiriloxanthin, torularodine, violaxanthin, astaxanthin and fucoxanthin. These last two, will be the matter of this study. Fucoxanthin is characterized by a low molecular weight, is chemically active and is easily oxidized and has several biological activities, such as: inhibiting the proliferation of a variety of neoplastic cells, promoting weight loss in animal models, acting as an antioxidant agent and anti-inflammatory, interact with the intestinal flora, prevent the formation of fibrosis in organs, protect the nervous system and exert a multitude of other beneficial effects. Astaxanthin is similar to fucoxanthin, protecting the body against multiple diseases, with excellent safety and tolerability, already being used as a nutritional supplement and having antioxidant, antineoplastic activities, diabetes prevention, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, in addition to modulating immunity. That said, this work aimed to carry out a bibliographic survey using scientific databases in order to address the biological activities of these two molecules mentioned, in order to clarify limitations and prospects in new formulations and uses of these xanthophylls.