Fucoxanthin

Fucoxanthin is a marine-derived carotenoid pigment predominantly found in brown algae and diatoms. It exhibits potent antioxidant properties due to its unique chemical structure containing an allenic bond and multiple oxygen atoms that enable efficient neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Fucoxanthin acts both by directly scavenging free radicals—thanks to its ability to donate electrons or hydrogen atoms—and by upregulating cellular defense mechanisms through the activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. This leads to increased expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase 1 and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1. Beyond its antioxidative function, fucoxanthin has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular protective activities in various preclinical models. It is being explored for use as a nutraceutical ingredient for chronic disease prevention but is not itself a therapeutic target like an enzyme or receptor—instead it acts broadly on cellular pathways involved in oxidative stress responses[3][4][6]. Note: The entry “Antioxidant activity via phenolic compounds/fucoxanthin” does not refer to a single molecular target but rather describes biological activities mediated by natural compounds—primarily fucoxanthin—which act on multiple pathways rather than binding specifically to one protein or receptor. Therefore this entry should be marked incorrect if used where only canonical drug targets are appropriate. If you need structured information about actual molecular targets modulated by phenolic compounds or fucoxanthin—such as the transcription factor Nrf2—please specify further so that precise data can be provided.

Other names

brown seaweed carotenoidmarine-derived carotenoid

Direct scavenging of reactive oxygen species and free radicals via electron transfer, dehydrogenation, and addition reactions. It also induces antioxidant enzyme expression through activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway, leading to increased synthesis of heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO‐1).