Abstract: Astaxanthin is a fat⁃soluble carotenoid and found in many aquatic organisms. Of all the microorganisms that accumulate astaxanthin，Haematococcus pluvialisis considered to be the best microorganism in nature that is used to produce natural astaxanthin. Astaxanthin has extremely strong antioxidant property，and it shows anti⁃tumor，anti⁃inflammatory and organ protection effects. Besides，astaxanthin may also play roles in regulating immunity，as it can protect immune cells，increase the number of immune cells，promote the production of immunoglobulin or secretion level of cytokine，and inhibit the cytokine storm or inflammatory storm due to immune response overreaction. In this review，therefore，we especially focus on the roles of astaxanthin in immune regulation，summarizing the research results on its molecular mechanisms or signal pathways，and concerning on the battle against the current global pandemic of coronavirus 2019⁃nCoV（SARS⁃CoV⁃2），we discuss the potential applications of astaxanthin in this anti⁃epidemic or⁃pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019（COVID⁃19）based on the outstanding immunoregulation property and anti⁃inflammatory effect of astanxanthin，in order to provide some ideas for protection of human health and development of anti⁃epidemic drugs.

Key words:  , astaxanthin；antioxidant；immunoregulation；cytokine storm；Coronavirus disease 2019（COVID?19）