In the present study, we have addressed the in vitro antioxidant activity of total carotenoids extracted from the L. vannamei muscle. The results obtained herein strongly suggest that the carotenoids from this food source display a great antioxidant activity, since they were able to induce free radicals scavenging and to inhibit lipid peroxidation.
In order to analyze the total carotenoids antioxidant activity, the methods already described in the scientific literature were conducted. Nonetheless, the techniques had to be previously standardized in relation to volumes and concentrations, since, up to now, there are no scientific reports about the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of carotenoids and astaxanthin derived from shrimp and the application of the methods tested herein.
Finally, the results presented in this study suggest that astaxanthin, the major carotenoid present in shrimp, may protect the crustacean against oxidative reactions. This conclusion is based on the greater in vitro antioxidant activity of the carotenoids present in the shrimp cultivated with chow supplemented with the H. pluvialis algae, a chow source for astaxanthin biosynthesis. Further studies are needed to verify the possible in vivo beneficial effects of the consumption of food containing astaxanthin as the major carotenoid, such as shrimp.