天然虾青素的生物学功能及其在动物生产中的应用

Biological Function of Natural Astaxanthin and Its Application in Animal Production

虾青素是一种酮基类胡萝卜素,具有着色、抗氧化、提高免疫力、抗癌等生物学功能。研究表明,家禽日粮中添加的天然虾青素可通过血液、肝脏和卵巢的消化、吸收与运输,最后在蛋黄中明显富集,使蛋黄颜色加深。同时因其具有羟基和不饱和酮基,可有效清除自由基,提高机体抗氧化酶活性,降低活性氧及丙二醛含量,减轻动物机体氧化应激损害。另外,天然虾青素可通过改善动物精液品质及生殖激素的分泌从而提高其生殖性能。在水产动物日粮中添加天然虾青素,不仅能增亮水产动物自身肤色,还可通过细胞免疫与体液免疫及抑制炎性因子NF-κB信号通路增强机体免疫力。文章综述了虾青素的结构特征、理化性质、提取方法和纯化,详细叙述了虾青素着色、抗氧化、提高机体免疫力、抗肿瘤等方面的功能,并分析了虾青素在畜牧与水产应用中的前景,旨在为其在畜牧生产中的进一步应用奠定理论基础。

Astaxanthin is a ketone carotenoid with many biological functions such as coloring,anti-oxidation,immunity enhancement and anti-cancer.Natural astaxanthin in poultry diet is digested,absorbed and transported by blood,liver and ovary,and eventually enriched in egg yolk to deepen yolk color.Meanwhile,due to its hydroxyl group and unsaturated ketone group,natural astaxanthin can effectively scavenge free radicals,increase the body’s antioxidant enzyme activity,reduce the content of reactive oxygen and malondialdehyde,so as to reduce the oxidative stress damage.In addition,natural astaxanthin can improve the reproductive performance of animals by improving the semen quality and the secretion of reproductive hormones.Dietary natural astaxanthin not only brightens the skin color of aquatic animals,but also enhances immunity by participating in cellular and humoral immunity and inhibiting the inflammatory factor NF-κB signaling pathway.This paper briefly reviewed the structural characteristics,physicochemical properties,extraction and purification of astaxanthin,and its functions,such as coloring,anti-oxidation,improving immunity and anti-tumor were described in detail.In addition,the applications prospects of astaxanthin in livestock and aquaculture were analyzed aiming to lay a theoretical foundation for its further application in livestock production.