Indicaxanthin is a type of betaxanthin, a plant pigment present in beets, prickly pear cactus, and a powerful antioxidant. It is also found in red dragonfruit.

Medical uses

It has been shown in a spectrophotometric study for patients with thalassemia, that indicaxanthin can reduce perferryl-Hb generated in solution from met-Hb and hydrogen peroxide, more effectively than either trolox (a vitamin E derivative) or vitamin C, possibly interfering with perferryl-Hb, a reactive intermediate in the hydroperoxide-dependent Hb degradation.

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