Progress and Future Perspectives in Zeaxanthin Research

doi:10.19586/j.2095-2341.2025.0061

Current Biotechnology ›› 2025, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (5): 755-763.DOI: 10.19586/j.2095-2341.2025.0061

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Progress and Future Perspectives in Zeaxanthin Research

Rourou LI¹^,²(), Pu ZHAO²(), Yani ZHENG¹, Jingyu YANG¹, Chunhong MA², Xing WANG¹(), Shuo ZHOU²()

^1.College of Landscape Architecture and Ecological Engineering，Hebei University of Engineering，Hebei Handan 056038，China
^2.Key Laboratory of Plant Gene Engineering of Hebei Province，Institute of Biotechnology and Food Science，Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences，Shijiazhuang 050051，China

Received:2025-05-13 Accepted:2025-07-11 Online:2025-09-25 Published:2025-11-11
Contact: Xing WANG,Shuo ZHOU

Abstract

Abstract:

Zeaxanthin， a natural pigment belonging to the carotenoid family， is known for its strong antioxidant capacity and has been widely recognized for its roles in disease prevention and feed supplementation. This article systematically reviewed the structure and fundamental chemical properties， natural sources， synthesis regulation mechanisms， extraction methods （such as organic solvent extraction， supercritical CO₂ fluid extraction， and enzymatic hydrolysis）， analytical detection methods （chromatography and spectroscopy） of zeaxanthin， as well as its functions and applications in food coloring， antioxidation， vision care， and disease prevention. Additionally， it offered insights into future research directions and application prospects， in order to provide reference for the practical application plans and development of new functional products of zeaxanthin in food processing， pharmaceutical development， animal nutrition and promote the innovative development of the nutrition and health industry value.

Key words: zeaxanthin, synthesis and regulation, extraction methods, analytical detection, gene mapping

摘要：

玉米黄素（zeaxanthin）是一种天然色素，属于类胡萝卜素，具有较强的抗氧化能力，广泛用于预防疾病、饲料添加等方面。综述了玉米黄素的结构和基本化学特性、天然来源、合成调控机制、提取方法（有机溶剂萃取、超临界CO₂流体萃取、酶解法）、分析检测方法（色谱法、光谱法），及其在食品着色、抗氧化、视力保健、疾病预防等方面的功能与应用，并对未来的研究方向和应用前景作了展望，以期为玉米黄素在食品加工、医药研发、动物营养领域的具体应用方案及开发新型功能性产品提供参考，对促进营养健康产业的创新发展具有重要价值。

关键词: 玉米黄素, 合成与调控, 提取方法, 分析检测, 基因定位

CLC Number:

Q945

Rourou LI, Pu ZHAO, Yani ZHENG, Jingyu YANG, Chunhong MA, Xing WANG, Shuo ZHOU. Progress and Future Perspectives in Zeaxanthin Research[J]. Current Biotechnology, 2025, 15(5): 755-763.

李柔柔, 赵璞, 郑亚妮, 杨婧宇, 马春红, 王星, 周硕. 玉米黄素的研究进展与展望[J]. 生物技术进展, 2025, 15(5): 755-763.

Figures/Tables 4

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植物种类	玉米黄素含量/（μg·100 g^-1）
金盏花	1 310
玉米	528
菠菜	331
羽衣甘蓝	266
大头菜	263
莴苣	187
黄橙	74
西兰花	23
胡萝卜	23
鸡蛋	23

植物种类	玉米黄素含量/（μg·100 g^-1）
金盏花	1 310
玉米	528
菠菜	331
羽衣甘蓝	266
大头菜	263
莴苣	187
黄橙	74
西兰花	23
胡萝卜	23
鸡蛋	23

提取方法	优点	缺点	参考文献
	高效、高纯度	萃取率低
有机溶剂萃取法	成本较低	耗时较长	[11,37]
	溶剂可回收	纯度受限
	环保、高效	成本较高
超临界CO₂流体萃取法	品质优良	设备复杂	[38-42]
	适用广泛	条件严苛
	高纯、高效	酶价高昂
酶解法	可去除杂质	安全考量	[11,14]
	安全环保	产量挑战

提取方法	优点	缺点	参考文献
	高效、高纯度	萃取率低
有机溶剂萃取法	成本较低	耗时较长	[11,37]
	溶剂可回收	纯度受限
	环保、高效	成本较高
超临界CO₂流体萃取法	品质优良	设备复杂	[38-42]
	适用广泛	条件严苛
	高纯、高效	酶价高昂
酶解法	可去除杂质	安全考量	[11,14]
	安全环保	产量挑战

Progress and Future Perspectives in Zeaxanthin Research

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[1]	Xin WANG, Tianzhu ZHANG. Research Progress on the Regulation of Anthocyanin Synthesis in Horticultural Crops [J]. Current Biotechnology, 2022, 12(1): 10-16.
[2]	. Morphological Analysis and Gene Mapping of a Rice Small Grain and Dwarf Mutant [J]. Curr. Biotech., 2014, 4(3): 186-191.