Zeaxanthin

Zeaxanthin (CAS 144-68-3) is a naturally occurring xanthophyll carotenoid widely used across food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and personal care manufacturing. Commercially derived from marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta), it is valued primarily for its antioxidant activity and characteristic yellow-orange pigmentation, making it a functional ingredient in a broad range of formulations. In the nutraceutical and supplement sector, zeaxanthin is a well-established active ingredient, frequently standardised to defined potencies of 5%, 10%, or 20% by HPLC. It commonly appears alongside lutein in eye-health and antioxidant supplement formulations. Manufacturers sourcing for this market should confirm USP specification compliance where applicable, as this is the standard reference for finished-product quality assurance in the supplement industry.

Food and beverage manufacturers use zeaxanthin as both a natural colourant and an antioxidant stabiliser. It is permitted under EU food additive regulations and is referenced under the broader carotenoid category (E 160a group and related provisions), depending on the specific application and jurisdiction. Formulators in this sector typically require food-grade material with documented batch-to-batch consistency and full traceability from botanical source to finished extract. In pharmaceutical applications, zeaxanthin is incorporated into softgel capsules, hard-shell capsules, and oral liquid preparations. Pharmaceutical-grade material is expected to meet tighter purity thresholds, with low levels of residual solvents and heavy metals, and full documentation supporting GMP-compliant manufacturing. Certificates of analysis with HPLC quantification are standard requirements at this specification level.

Personal care and cosmetic formulators incorporate zeaxanthin into skin-care products targeting oxidative stress and photoprotection. Its antioxidant function and compatibility with oil-based and emulsion systems make it suitable for serums, creams, and sun-care formulations. Cosmetic-grade material should be accompanied by appropriate safety data and stability profiling relevant to topical use. SoleChem supplies zeaxanthin in multiple forms to support varied processing requirements: crystalline extract, standardised powder (including free-flow and micronised grades), oil suspensions, and cold-water-soluble (CWS) dispersions for aqueous formulations. These forms allow direct incorporation into both lipophilic and hydrophilic matrices without extensive pre-processing by the customer.

Packaging is available in 1 kg and 5 kg units for development-scale and small-batch requirements, scaling to 25 kg drums or cartons for production-volume orders. All material is supplied with full technical documentation, including certificate of analysis, safety data sheet, and origin declaration. Customers with specific grade requirements or application-driven specifications are encouraged to contact SoleChem's technical sales team to confirm suitability prior to ordering.