Vaname (L. vannamei) shrimp waste contains powerful biological compound called astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a keto-carotenoid pigment with red-orange color and well known for its high antioxidant activity compared to other carotenoids pigment or α-tokopherol. In this study, vaname shrimp waste were extracted using soybean oil and the highest astaxanthin concentration was found in the pigmented oil phase (209.616 ppm). The antioxidant activity of astaxanthin was determined by using DPPH method and was used to treat diabetic mice. Hypoglycemic effect was evaluated in streptozotocin-induced mice. The animals were devided into 5 groups and received different oral treatment in each group (glibenclamide in dose 5 mg/kg bw, aquadest 0.2 ml and astaxanthin in dose of 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg bw). The blood glucose levels were examined every 2 days and compared before and after. Treatment of astaxanthin 20 mg/kg bw showed remarkable fall on blood glucose in streptozotosin-induced diabetic mice, while a slight fall can be seen in dose of 10 and 15 mg/kg bw. Therefore, these result present that vaname shrimp waste extract contained high astaxanthin content and has high antioxidant activity which can be effectively used to reduce blood glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Keywords:Astaxanthin, Hypoglycemic, Soybean oil, Streptozotocin, Vaname shrimp waste