Haematococcus pluvialis algae

Haematococcus pluvialis is believed to be the world's richest known source of astaxanthin, a unique natural carotenoid pigment and biological antioxidant.

Haematococcus algae are microscopic green algae, encountered all over the world.

They occur in continental and coastal rock pools, water holes and other similar small bodies of water, where they naturally strive as tiny free swimming flagellated algae smaller than the cross-section of a human hair.

When environmental conditions become adverse, i.e., when nutrients start becoming scarce, or the water pool starts drying out and the algae are increasingly exposed to direct sunlight, they enter a resting phase that allows them to survive for prolonged periods, until the environment becomes much more favorable.

When entering this resting phase, the algae naturally start accumulating high amounts of astaxanthin (3% or more of their dry weight).

It is believed that the astaxanthin plays an important role in protecting the algae against UV light damage and photo-oxidation of the poly-unsaturated lipids which they also accumulate in significant amount during this phase of their life.

Mera Pharmaceuticals combines the natural benefits of the abundant sunlight, clean water and air, and unique climatic conditions of Hawaii's Kona coast, with world-leading technology to optimize production of the Haematoccoccus algae incorporated in The AstaFactor^®.

Algae produced under those conditions represent the highest quality source possible of natural astaxanthin.