What to Know about Carotenoids

Carotenoids are the yellow, red, and orange pigments that are produced by various plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria, and can act as antioxidants in humans. In Chapter One of this four-chapter monograph, the authors describe astaxanthin, a reddish carotenoid found in seafood with potent antioxidant characteristics. Chapter Two compiles the challenges encountered in the oral bioavailability of lutein, a xanthophyll carotenoid. Chapter Three reviews the main parameters of the production of yeast carotenoids and the downstream processes to obtain carotenogenic extracts. Chapter Four summarizes known data on total carotenoid contents and chemical diversity of Rosaceae fruits.