Brown Seaweed Extract Fucoxanthin

Fucoxanthin was first isolated in 1914 by Willstätter and Page from the seaweeds Fucophylla, Dictyosophila and Laminaria. It has a unique chemical structure, and epoxy, hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl groups are considered to be one of the reasons why fucoxanthin has unique functions.
Substantial scientific evidence supports the potential benefits of fucoxanthin's nutritional and pharmaceutical uses to promote human health.
Fucoxanthin powder is a carotenoid, belonging to the lutein class of carotenoids, and is a natural antioxidant pigment.

Animal model studies confirm that fucoxanthin has many potential physiological effects on human health, from skin health to metabolic health.
1. Early research shows that fucoxanthin is also an effective free radical scavenger. In in vitro cell-free experiments, fucoxanthin extracted from brown algae has antioxidant activity. Its DPPH free radical scavenging activity and iron chelating activity levels increased, and its reducing ability decreased. ​
Studies have shown that fucoxanthin can effectively inhibit the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, DNA damage and H2O2-induced apoptosis, which may be related to fucoxanthin's ability to increase catalase.
2. Fucoxanthin powder may improve the changes in lipid metabolism and insulin resistance caused by high-fat diet, at least in part by reducing visceral fat mass, hyperinsulinemia, hepatic glucose production and hepatic lipogenesis, and altering hepatic glucose regulation enzyme activity.

3. Fucoxanthin can improve lipid profile by reducing major cardiovascular risk factors, increasing the proportion of DHA in the liver, preventing damage to the cardiovascular system, and can significantly reduce damage to neuronal cells during hypoxia and reoxygenation. Fucoxanthin has also been found to slow the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

As an emerging ingredient, its use in pharmaceuticals/nutraceuticals and cosmetics industries will become more and more common.

Reference

[1]. Hossain MF, Rashid M, Burniston T, Wu MAW, Kataye KA, et al. (2019) Evaluation of Fucoxanthin Content in Popular Weight Loss Supplements: The Case for Stricter Regulation of Dietary Supplements. J Obes Weight-Loss Medic 5:031. doi.org/10.23937/2572-4010.1510031

[2]. Piovan A, Seraglia R, Bresin B, Caniato R, Filippini R. Fucoxanthin from Undaria pinnatifida: photostability and coextractive effects. Molecules. 2013 May 29;18(6):6298-310. doi: 10.3390/molecules18066298. PMID: 23760030; PMCID: PMC6270627. 

[3].Md. Mohibbullah, Md. Nazmul Haque , Abdullah Al Mamun Sohag,.et al.A Systematic Review on Marine Algae-Derived Fucoxanthin: An Update of Pharmacological Insights.Mar. Drugs 2022, 20, 279.