Astaxanthin targets PI3K/Akt signaling pathway toward potential therapeutic applications

The complex pathophysiological mechanisms behind destructive chronic conditions, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and hepatic failure urge the need for finding related pivotal dysregulated signaling mediators, as well as multi-target therapeutic agents. In the current study, critical roles of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway, as potential therapeutic targets in the pathogenesis of various diseases has been described. This pathway is also interconnected with several downstream inflammatory, oxidative stress, and apoptotic mediators, as dysregulated pathways in chronic diseases. Therefore, identifying novel multi-target agents to attenuate PI3K/Akt, thereby related downstream pathways, is of great importance. Astaxanthin (AST) is a multi-target lipid-soluble keto-carotenoid derived from the varieties of marine organisms, with potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties through PI3K/Akt pathway. Nowadays, due to its high nutritional and medicinal value, research on AST is increasing. This review aimed to address PI3K/Akt targeted by AST in several diseases toward clinical applications.