Storage stability and antioxidant activity of complex of astaxanthin with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin.

Storage stability of astaxanthin/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) inclusion complex was evaluated and which was compared with native astaxanthin. The storage stability of astaxanthin was enhanced after included in HPCD under 4 °C and 25 °C storage conditions. Antioxidant activity of astaxanthin/HPCD inclusion complex was also assayed using ascorbic acid as a control sample. The reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging activity of native astaxanthin were lower than ascorbic acid, while which of the complex were higher at low concentration for the good water solubility. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of astaxanthin and astaxanthin/HPCD complex far outclassed that of ascorbic acid, and the activity of the complex was a little lower than that of the native astaxanthin.