## 3 Bioactivity of Pigments and Lipids from Plastids of Marine Phytoplankton
### Pigments
#### 3.1.2.1 Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Mutagenic Activities
Because of its anti-oxidant and membrane preservation properties, Asta has a considerable potential in the prevention and treatment of various chronic inflammatory disorders, such as cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, and gastrointestinal liver and neurodegenerative diseases, and could provide benefits not only for the cardiovascular system, but also in other inflammatory diseases. Therefore, its daily consumption is a practical and beneficial strategy in human health management [101]. Despite of these studies the molecular mechanism related to the biological activities of Asta is not yet fully understood. In a recent study, [PERSON] _et al._[114] investigated whether the actions of nonprovitamin A carotenoids including Asta are mediated _via_ retinoid signaling in cultured human keratinocytes. They found that \(\beta\)-carotene, \(\beta\)-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and Asta, upregulated _HAS3_ gene expression and stimulated hyaluron synthesis. The results suggest that nonprovitamin A can be substituted for retinoids and should be considered as a potential means of improving skin health. The several examples of benefits brought by Asta on health have however to be verified using human trials. To our knowledge, such trials have been started. For instance, [PERSON] _et al._[104] tested the effect of Asta supplementation on muscle enzymes, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant response in elite young soccer players in Serbia. The results suggest that soccer is associated with excessive production of ROS and oxidative stress, which are prevented in Asta-supplemented in young soccer players. Fucoxanthin (Fuco) is a brown pigment belonging to the class of xanthophylls, with anti-oxidant properties [128] under anoxic conditions, whereas other carotenoids have practically no quenching abilities, donating electrons as a part of its free-radical quenching function [129]. Fuco protects cells and provides other health benefits [38]: it improves cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and liver functions; it reduces inflammation, cholesterol and triglyceride levels [119, 121, 124]. Moreover, Fuco has anti-inflammatory effects via inhibitory effects of nitric oxide production [122, 123]. Future clinical studies should determine the effectiveness of Asta and Fuco, not only on the vascular structure, but also on cartilage and joint health in at-risk patients or in those with established osteoarthritis [38]. \(\beta\)-Carotene isan important carotenoid because it displays a pro-vitamin A activity. Because animal cells cannot synthesize this molecule, it is considered as an essential compound in the human body [151]. Canthaxanthin has also anti-cancer properties [106] and a potent antioxidant. In particular, it inhibits the oxidation of lipids in liposomes [107]. Lutein and \(\beta\)-cryptoxanthin may down-regulate factors involved in inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis [113]. Lutein is currently considered as effective agent for the prevention of a variety of human diseases. Synechokanthin, isolated in 2008 from the cyanobacterium _Synechococcus_ sp. strain PCC 7002, has exceptional strong antioxidant properties [142].