Figure 11. Schematic representation of the mechanism of action of astaxanthin in DMBA induced oral cancer.

Dietary supplementation of astaxanthin abrogates DMBA induced oral cancer by targeting JAK/STAT-3 signaling. Astaxanthin prevents the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT-3 thereby prevents the transactivation of STAT-3 target genes which are involved in cell proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis. Furthermore astaxanthin also prevents nuclear translocation of HIF-1α, the master regulator of angiogenesis.