Recent updates on the neuroprotective role of carotenoids: Astaxanthin and beyond

Neurological disorders are the major and increasing cause of disability and death. Despite the progressions in the management of neurological diseases, revealing related medicinal therapies remained a clinical challenge, due to their less efficacy and different adverse effects. Besides, several cellular and molecular mechanisms are underlying the progression of neurodegeneration. Increasing our knowledge on these complexes signaling pathways, along with the lack of efficient therapeutic compound, raise the need to develop novel multitarget drugs to stop the progression of neurodegenerative diseases through different mechanisms. Among these destructive signaling pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis play major roles. Being the auspicious source of antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiapoptotic agents, carotenoids have been potential neuroprotective constituents, and there is increasing evidence demonstrating the negative correlation of carotenoids with neurodegenerative diseases. As a red-orange carotenoid possessing unique structure linked to its superior antioxidant activity, astaxanthin (AST) is a promising and multitarget agent. There is also growing attention regarding the potential neuroprotective activity of AST. In the present chapter, we provide the beneficial neuroprotective effects of carotenoids with a particular focus on AST and related pharmacological mechanisms of action to show new avenue in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.