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Carotenoids are organic
Organic compound

An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of compounds such as carbonates, simple oxides of carbon and cyanides, as well as the allotropes of carbon, are considered Inorganic compound....
 pigment
Pigment

A pigment is a material that changes the color of light it Reflection as the result of selective color absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which the material itself emits light....
s that are naturally occurring in chromoplast
Chromoplast

Chromoplasts are plastids responsible for pigment synthesis and storage. They, like all other plastids , are organelles found in specific photosynthetic eukaryotic species....
s of plants and some other photosynthetic
Photosynthesis

File:Seawifs global biosphere.jpgPhotosynthesis is a metabolic pathway that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight....
 organism
Organism

In biology, an organism is any life thing . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimulus , reproduction, growth and developmental biology, and maintenance of homeostasis as a stable whole....
s like algae
Algae

Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms. The largest and most complex marine forms are called seaweeds....
, some types of fungus
Fungus

A fungus is a Eukaryote organism that is a member of the Kingdom Fungi . The fungi are a monophyletic group, also called the Eumycota , that is phylogeny distinct from the morphologically similar slime molds and water molds ....
 and some bacteria. There are over 600 known carotenoids; they are split into two classes, xanthophyll
Xanthophyll

Xanthophylls are yellow pigments from the carotenoid group. Their molecular structure is based on carotenes; contrary to the carotenes, some hydrogen atoms are substituted by hydroxyl groups and/or some pairs of hydrogen atoms are substituted by oxygen atoms....
s and carotene
Carotene

The term carotene is used for several related substances having the formula C40Hx, which are synthesized by plants but cannot be made by animals....
s. They absorb blue light.






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Carotenoids are organic
Organic compound

An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of compounds such as carbonates, simple oxides of carbon and cyanides, as well as the allotropes of carbon, are considered Inorganic compound....
 pigment
Pigment

A pigment is a material that changes the color of light it Reflection as the result of selective color absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which the material itself emits light....
s that are naturally occurring in chromoplast
Chromoplast

Chromoplasts are plastids responsible for pigment synthesis and storage. They, like all other plastids , are organelles found in specific photosynthetic eukaryotic species....
s of plants and some other photosynthetic
Photosynthesis

File:Seawifs global biosphere.jpgPhotosynthesis is a metabolic pathway that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight....
 organism
Organism

In biology, an organism is any life thing . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimulus , reproduction, growth and developmental biology, and maintenance of homeostasis as a stable whole....
s like algae
Algae

Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms. The largest and most complex marine forms are called seaweeds....
, some types of fungus
Fungus

A fungus is a Eukaryote organism that is a member of the Kingdom Fungi . The fungi are a monophyletic group, also called the Eumycota , that is phylogeny distinct from the morphologically similar slime molds and water molds ....
 and some bacteria. There are over 600 known carotenoids; they are split into two classes, xanthophyll
Xanthophyll

Xanthophylls are yellow pigments from the carotenoid group. Their molecular structure is based on carotenes; contrary to the carotenes, some hydrogen atoms are substituted by hydroxyl groups and/or some pairs of hydrogen atoms are substituted by oxygen atoms....
s and carotene
Carotene

The term carotene is used for several related substances having the formula C40Hx, which are synthesized by plants but cannot be made by animals....
s. They absorb blue light. Carotenoids serve two key roles in plants and algae: they absorb light energy for use in photosynthesis, and they protect chlorophyll from photodamage. In humans, carotenoids such as beta-carotene
Beta-carotene

?-Carotene is an organic compound - a terpenoid, a red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits. As a carotene with ?-rings at both ends, it is the most common form of carotene....
 are a precursor to vitamin A
Vitamin A

Vitamin A, a bi-polar molecule formed with bi-polar covalent bonds between carbon and hydrogen, is linked to a family of similarly shaped molecules, the retinoids, which complete the remainder of the vitamin sequence....
, a pigment essential for good vision, and carotenoids can also act as antioxidant
Antioxidant

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the Redox of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent....
s.

People consuming diets rich in carotenoids from natural foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are healthier and have lower mortality from a number of chronic illnesses. However, a recent meta-analysis of 68 reliable antioxidant supplementation experiments involving a total of 232,606 individuals concluded that consuming additional beta-carotene from supplements is unlikely to be beneficial and may actually be harmful, although this conclusion may be due to the inclusion of studies involving smokers. With the notable exception of Vietnam Gac
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 and crude palm oil
Palm oil

Palm oil is an edible Vegetable fats and oils derived from the fruit of the Arecaceae Elaeis oil palm. Previously the second-most widely produced edible oil, after soybean oil, 28 million tonnes were produced worldwide in 2004....
, most carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables are low in lipids. Since dietary lipids have been hypothesized to be an important factor for carotenoid bioavailability, a 2005 study investigated whether addition of avocado fruit or oil, as lipid sources, would enhance carotenoid absorption in humans. The study found that the addition of both avocado fruit and oil significantly enhanced the subjects' absorption of all carotenoids tested (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein).

Properties

Carotenoids belong to the category of tetraterpenoids (i.e. they contain 40 carbon atoms). Structurally they are in the form of a polyene
Polyene

Polyenes are poly-Saturation organic compounds that contain one or more sequences of alternating double and single carbon-carbon bonds. These double carbon-carbon bonds interact in a process known as Conjugated system, which results in an overall lower energy state of the molecule....
 chain which is sometimes terminated by rings.
  • Carotenoids with molecules containing oxygen, such as lutein
    Lutein

    Lutein is one of over 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids. Found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, lutein is employed by organisms as an antioxidant and for blue light absorption....
     and zeaxanthin
    Zeaxanthin

    Zeaxanthin is one of the two carotenoids contained within the retina of the eye. Within the central macula, zeaxanthin is the dominant component, whereas in the peripheral retina, lutein predominates....
    , are known as xanthophyll
    Xanthophyll

    Xanthophylls are yellow pigments from the carotenoid group. Their molecular structure is based on carotenes; contrary to the carotenes, some hydrogen atoms are substituted by hydroxyl groups and/or some pairs of hydrogen atoms are substituted by oxygen atoms....
    s    .
  • The unoxygenated (oxygen free) carotenoids such as alpha-carotene
    Alpha-carotene

    α-Carotene is a form of carotene with a ?-ring at one end and an e-ring at the other. It is the second most common form of carotene....
    , beta-carotene
    Beta-carotene

    ?-Carotene is an organic compound - a terpenoid, a red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits. As a carotene with ?-rings at both ends, it is the most common form of carotene....
     and lycopene
    Lycopene

    Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits.In plants, algae, and other Photosynthesis, lycopene is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of many carotenoids, including beta carotene, responsible for yellow, orange or red pigmentation, photosynthesis, and photo-protection....
     are known as carotene
    Carotene

    The term carotene is used for several related substances having the formula C40Hx, which are synthesized by plants but cannot be made by animals....
    s    . Carotenes typically contain only carbon and hydrogen.


Probably the most well-known carotenoid is the one that gives this second group its name, carotene
Carotene

The term carotene is used for several related substances having the formula C40Hx, which are synthesized by plants but cannot be made by animals....
, found in carrots (also apricots) and are responsible for their bright orange colour. Crude palm oil, however, is the richest source of carotenoids in nature in terms of retinol (provitamin A) equivalent. Vietnam Gac
GAC

selfref|For Wikipedia's good article promotion process, see...
 fruit contains the highest known concentration of the carotenoid lycopene
Lycopene

Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits.In plants, algae, and other Photosynthesis, lycopene is an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of many carotenoids, including beta carotene, responsible for yellow, orange or red pigmentation, photosynthesis, and photo-protection....
.

Their colour, ranging from pale yellow through bright orange to deep red, is directly linked to their structure. Xanthophylls are often yellow, hence their class name. The double carbon-carbon bonds interact with each other in a process called conjugation
Conjugated system

A conjugated system occurs in an organic compound where atoms covalently Chemical bond with alternating single and multiple bonds and influence each other to produce a region called electron delocalization....
, which allows electrons in the molecule to move freely across these areas of the molecule. As the number of double bonds increases, electrons associated with conjugated systems have more room to move, and require less energy to change states. This causes the range of energies of light absorbed by the molecule to decrease. As more frequencies of light are absorbed from the short end of the visible spectrum, the compounds acquire an increasingly red appearance.

Physiological effects

In photosynthetic
Photosynthesis

File:Seawifs global biosphere.jpgPhotosynthesis is a metabolic pathway that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight....
 organisms, specifically flora
Flora

In botany, flora has two meanings. The first meaning, flora of an area or of time period, refers to all plant life occurring in an area or time period, especially the naturally occurring or indigenous plant life....
, carotenoids play a vital role in the photosynthetic reaction centre. They either participate in the energy-transfer process, or protect the reaction center from auto-oxidation. In non-photosynthesizing organisms, specifically humans
Human

A human being, also human or man, is a member of a species of bipedalism primates in the family Hominidae . Mitochondrial DNA evidence indicates that modern humans originated in east Africa about 200,000 years ago....
, carotenoids have been linked to oxidation-preventing mechanisms.

Carotenoids have many physiological functions. Given their structure (above), carotenoids are efficient free-radical scavengers, and they enhance the vertebrate immune system. There are several dozen carotenoids in foods people consume, and most carotenoids have antioxidant activity. Epidemiological
Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine....
 studies have shown that people with high beta-carotene intake and high plasma levels of beta-carotene have a significantly reduced risk of lung cancer
Cancer

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cell display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis . These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize....
. However, studies of supplementation with large doses of beta-carotene
Carotene

The term carotene is used for several related substances having the formula C40Hx, which are synthesized by plants but cannot be made by animals....
 in smokers have shown an increase in cancer
Cancer

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cell display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis . These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize....
 risk (possibly because excessive beta-carotene
Carotene

The term carotene is used for several related substances having the formula C40Hx, which are synthesized by plants but cannot be made by animals....
 results in breakdown products that reduce plasma vitamin A
Retinol

Retinol, the animal form of vitamin A, is a fat-soluble vitamin important in visual system and bone growth. It is also a Terpenoid. Retinol is among the most useable forms of vitamin A, which also include Retinal , Retinoic acid and retinyl ester ....
 and worsen the lung cell proliferation
Cell growth

The term cell growth is used in the contexts of Cell development and cell division . When used in the context of cell division, it refers to growth of cell populations, where one cell grows and divides to produce two "daughter cells"....
 induced by smoke). Similar results have been found in other animals. Not all carotenoids are helpful, e.g. etretinate
Etretinate

Etretinate is a medication used to treat severe psoriasis. It was removed from the United States market in 1998 and the Canadian market in 1996, due to the high risk of birth defects....
 is a teratogen.

Humans and Animal
Animal

Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the Kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life....
s are incapable of synthesizing carotenoids, and must obtain them through their diet, yet they are common and often in ornamental features. For example, the pink colour of flamingo
Flamingo

Flamingos or flamingoes are wikt:gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus and family Phoenicopteridae. They are found in both the Western Hemisphere and in the Eastern Hemisphere, but are more numerous in the latter....
s and salmon
Salmon

Salmon is the common name for several species of fish of the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the family are called trout,the difference is often attributed to the migratory life of the salmon as compared to the residential behaviour of trout, this holds true for the Atlantic salmon....
, and the red colouring of lobster
Lobster

Clawed lobsters compose a family of large marine crustaceans. Lobsters are economically important as seafood, forming the basis of a global industry that nets United States dollar1.8 billion in trade annually....
s are due to carotenoids. It has been proposed that carotenoids are used in ornamental traits because, given their physiological and chemical properties, they can be used as honest indicators of individual health, and hence they can be used by animals when selecting potential mates. The most common carotenoids include lycopene and the vitamin A precursor ß-carotene. In plants, the xanthophyll lutein
Lutein

Lutein is one of over 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids. Found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, lutein is employed by organisms as an antioxidant and for blue light absorption....
 is the most abundant carotenoid and its role in preventing age-related eye disease is currently under investigation. Lutein and the other carotenoid pigments found in mature leaves are often not obvious because of the presence of chlorophyll
Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from Greek language: ?????? and f????? ....
. However, when chlorophyll is not present, as in young folliage and also dying deciduous
Deciduous

Deciduous means falling off at maturity or tending to fall off and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe....
 folliage (such as autumn leaves), the yellows, reds, and oranges of the carotenoids are predominant. For the same reason, carotenoid colours often predominate in ripe fruit (e.g., oranges, tomatoes, bananas), after being unmasked by the disappearance of chlorophyll.

Aroma chemicals

Products of carotenoid degradation such as ionone
Ionone

The ionones are a series of closely related chemical substances that are part of a group of compounds known as rose ketones, which also includes damascones and damascenones....
s, damascone
Damascone

Damascones are a series of closely related chemical compounds that are components of a variety of essential oils. The damascones belong to a family of chemicals known as rose ketones, which also includes damascenones and ionones....
s, and damascenone
Damascenone

Damascenones are a series of closely related chemical compounds that are components of a variety of essential oils. The damascenones belong to a family of chemicals known as rose ketones, which also includes damascones and ionones....
s are also important fragrance chemicals that are used extensively in the perfume
Perfume

Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces a pleasant smell....
s and fragrance industry. Both beta-damascenone and beta-ionone although low in concentration in rose
Rose

A rose is a perennial plant flower shrub or vine of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species and comes in a variety of colors....
 distillates are the key odour-contributing compounds in flowers. In fact, the sweet floral smells present in black tea
Black tea

Black tea is a variety of tea that is more oxidization than the oolong, green tea, and White tea varieties.All four varieties are made from leaves of Camellia sinensis. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine than the less Redox teas....
, aged tobacco
Tobacco

Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines....
, grape
Grape

File:Table grapes on white.jpgA grape is the non-Climacteric #In_botany fruit that grows on the Perennial plant and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis....
, and many fruits are due to the aromatic compounds resulting from carotenoid breakdown.

Disease

Despite being important in nutrition, some carotenoids are produced by bacteria to protect themselves from immune attack, such as MRSA. The golden pigment of S. aureus
Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of staph infections. It is a spherical Bacteria, frequently found in the nose and skin of a person....
 allows it to survive competitive attack by Lactobaccillus as well as the human immune system
Immune system

An immune system is a collection of biological processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumour cells....
.

List of Naturally occurring carotenoids

  • Hydrocarbons
    • Lycopersene 7,8,11,12,15,7',8',11',12',15'-Decahydro-y,y-carotene
    • Phytofluene
      Phytofluene

      Phytofluene is a carotenoid pigment with an orange color found naturally in tomatoes and other vegetables. It is the second product of carotenoid biosynthesis....
    • Hexahydrolycopene 15-cis-7,8,11,12,7',8'-Hexahydro-y,y-carotene
    • Torulene 3',4'-Didehydro-b,y-carotene
    • a-Zeacarotene 7',8'-Dihydro-e,y-carotene


  • Alcohols
    • Alloxanthin
    • Cynthiaxanthin
    • Pectenoxanthin
    • Cryptomonaxanthin (3R,3'R)-7,8,7',8'-Tetradehydro-b,b-carotene-3,3'-diol
    • Crustaxanthin b,b-Carotene-3,4,3',4'-tetrol
    • Gazaniaxanthin (3R)-5'-cis-b,y-Caroten-3-ol
    • OH-Chlorobactene 1',2'-Dihydro-f,y-caroten-1'-ol
    • Loroxanthin b,e-Carotene-3,19,3'-triol
    • Lycoxanthin y,y-Caroten-16-ol
    • Rhodopin 1,2-Dihydro-y,y-caroten-l-ol
    • Rhodopinol aka Warmingol 13-cis-1,2-Dihydro-y,y-carotene-1,20-diol
    • Saproxanthin 3',4'-Didehydro-1',2'-dihydro-b,y-carotene-3,1'-diol


  • Glycosides
    • Oscillaxanthin 2,2'-Bis(b-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)-3,4,3',4'-tetradehydro-1,2,1',2'-tetrahydro-y,y-carotene-1,1'-diol
    • Phleixanthophyll 1'-(b-D-Glucopyranosyloxy)-3',4'-didehydro-1',2'-dihydro-b,y-caroten-2'-ol


  • Ethers
    • Rhodovibrin 1'-Methoxy-3',4'-didehydro-1,2,1',2'-tetrahydro-y,y-caroten-1-ol
    • Spheroidene 1-Methoxy-3,4-didehydro-1,2,7',8'-tetrahydro-y,y-carotene


  • Epoxides
    • Diadinoxanthin 5,6-Epoxy-7',8'-didehydro-5,6-dihydro--carotene-3,3-diol
    • Luteoxanthin 5,6: 5',8'-Diepoxy-5,6,5',8'-tetrahydro-b,b-carotene-3,3'-diol
    • Mutatoxanthin
    • Citroxanthin
    • Zeaxanthin
      Zeaxanthin

      Zeaxanthin is one of the two carotenoids contained within the retina of the eye. Within the central macula, zeaxanthin is the dominant component, whereas in the peripheral retina, lutein predominates....
       furanoxide 5,8-Epoxy-5,8-dihydro-b,b-carotene-3,3'-diol
    • Neochrome 5',8'-Epoxy-6,7-didehydro-5,6,5',8'-tetrahydro-b,b-carotene-3,5,3'-triol
    • Foliachrome
    • Trollichrome
    • Vaucheriaxanthin 5',6'-Epoxy-6,7-didehydro-5,6,5',6'-tetrahydro-b,b-carotene-3,5,19,3'-tetrol


  • Aldehydes
    • Rhodopinal
    • Wamingone 13-cis-1-Hydroxy-1,2-dihydro-y,y-caroten-20-al
    • Torularhodinaldehyde 3',4'-Didehydro-b,y-caroten-16'-al


  • Acids and Acid Esters
    • Torularhodin 3',4'-Didehydro-b,y-caroten-16'-oic acid
    • Torularhodin methyl ester Methyl 3',4'-didehydro-b,y-caroten-16'-oate


  • Ketones
    • Canthaxanthin
      Canthaxanthin

      Canthaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment widely distributed in nature. Carotenoids belong to a larger class of phytochemicals known as terpenoids....
       aka Aphanicin, Chlorellaxanthin b,b-Carotene-4,4'-dione
    • Capsanthin (3R,3'S,5'R)-3,3'-Dihydroxy-b,k-caroten-6'-one
    • Capsorubin (3S,5R,3'S,5'R)-3,3'-Dihydroxy-k,k-carotene-6,6'-dione
    • Cryptocapsin (3'R,5'R)-3'-Hydroxy-b,k-caroten-6'-one
    • 2,2'-Diketospirilloxanthin 1,1'-Dimethoxy-3,4,3',4'-tetradehydro-1,2,1',2'-tetrahydro-y,y-carotene-2,2'-dione
    • Flexixanthin 3,1'-Dihydroxy-3',4'-didehydro-1',2'-dihydro-b,y-caroten-4-one
    • 3-OH-Canthaxanthin aka Adonirubin aka Phoenicoxanthin 3-Hydroxy-b,b-carotene-4,4'-dione
    • Hydroxyspheriodenone 1'-Hydroxy-1-methoxy-3,4-didehydro-1,2,1',2',7',8'-hexahydro-y,y-caroten-2-one
    • Okenone 1'-Methoxy-1',2'-dihydro-c,y-caroten-4'-one
    • Pectenolone 3,3'-Dihydroxy-7',8'-didehydro-b,b-caroten-4-one
    • Phoeniconone aka Dehydroadonirubin 3-Hydroxy-2,3-didehydro-b,b-carotene-4,4'-dione
    • Phoenicopterone b,e-caroten-4-one
    • Rubixanthone 3-Hydroxy-b,y-caroten-4'-one
    • Siphonaxanthin 3,19,3'-Trihydroxy-7,8-dihydro-b,e-caroten-8-one


  • Esters of Alcohols
    • Astacein 3,3'-Bispalmitoyloxy-2,3,2',3'-tetradehydro-b,b-carotene-4,4'-dione or 3,3'-dihydroxy-2,3,2',3'-tetradehydro-b,b-carotene-4,4'-dione dipalmitate
    • Fucoxanthin
      Fucoxanthin

      Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid, with formula C42H58O6. It is found as an accessory pigment in the chloroplasts of brown algae and most other heterokonts, giving them a brown or olive-green color....
       3'-Acetoxy-5,6-epoxy-3,5'-dihydroxy-6',7'-didehydro-5,6,7,8,5',6'-hexahydro-b,b-caroten-8-one
    • Isofucoxanthin 3'-Acetoxy-3,5,5'-trihydroxy-6',7'-didehydro-5,8,5',6'-tetrahydro-b,b-caroten-8-one
    • Physalien
    • Zeaxanthin
      Zeaxanthin

      Zeaxanthin is one of the two carotenoids contained within the retina of the eye. Within the central macula, zeaxanthin is the dominant component, whereas in the peripheral retina, lutein predominates....
       dipalmitate (3R,3'R)-3,3'-Bispalmitoyloxy-b,b-carotene or (3R,3'R)-b,b-carotene-3,3'-diol dipalmitate
    • Siphonein 3,3'-Dihydroxy-19-lauroyloxy-7,8-dihydro-b,e-caroten-8-one or 3,19,3'-trihydroxy-7,8-dihydro-b,e-caroten-8-one 19-laurate


  • Apo Carotenoids
    • b-Apo-2'-carotenal 3',4'-Didehydro-2'-apo-b-caroten-2'-al
    • Apo-2-lycopenal
    • Apo-6'-lycopenal 6'-Apo-y-caroten-6'-al
    • Azafrinaldehyde 5,6-Dihydroxy-5,6-dihydro-10'-apo-b-caroten-10'-al
    • Bixin 6'-Methyl hydrogen 9'-cis-6,6'-diapocarotene-6,6'-dioate
    • Citranaxanthin
      Citranaxanthin

      Citranaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment used as a food additive under the E number E161i as a food coloring. There are natural sources of citranaxanthin, but it is generally prepared synthetically....
       5',6'-Dihydro-5'-apo-b-caroten-6'-one or 5',6'-dihydro-5'-apo-18'-nor-b-caroten-6'-one or 6'-methyl-6'-apo-b-caroten-6'-one
    • Crocetin
      Crocetin

      Crocetin is a natural carotenoid carboxylic acid that is found in the crocus flower. It forms brick red crystals with a melting point of 285 ?C....
       8,8'-Diapo-8,8'-carotenedioic acid
    • Crocetinsemialdehyde 8'-Oxo-8,8'-diapo-8-carotenoic acid
    • Crocin
      Crocin

      Crocin is a natural carotenoid chemical compound that is found in the flowers crocus and gardenia. It is the ester formed from the disaccharide gentiobiose and the carboxylic acid crocetin....
       Digentiobiosyl 8,8'-diapo-8,8'-carotenedioate
    • Hopkinsiaxanthin 3-Hydroxy-7,8-didehydro-7',8'-dihydro-7'-apo-b-carotene-4,8'-dione or 3-hydroxy-8'-methyl-7,8-didehydro-8'-apo-b-carotene-4,8'-dione
    • Methyl apo-6'-lycopenoate Methyl 6'-apo-y-caroten-6'-oate
    • Paracentrone 3,5-Dihydroxy-6,7-didehydro-5,6,7',8'-tetrahydro-7'-apo-b-caroten-8'-one or 3,5-dihydroxy-8'-methyl-6,7-didehydro-5,6-dihydro-8'-apo-b-caroten-8'-one
    • Sintaxanthin 7',8'-Dihydro-7'-apo-b-caroten-8'-one or 8'-methyl-8'-apo-b-caroten-8'-one


  • Nor and Seco Carotenoids
    • Actinioerythrin 3,3'-Bisacyloxy-2,2'-dinor-b,b-carotene-4,4'-dione
    • b-Carotenone 5,6:5',6'-Diseco-b,b-carotene-5,6,5',6'-tetrone
    • Peridinin
      Peridinin

      Peridinin is a light-harvesting carotenoid, a pigment related to chlorophyll which appears in the peridinin-chlorophyll-protein light-harvesting complex in dinoflagellates, best studied in Amphidinium carterae....
       3'-Acetoxy-5,6-epoxy-3,5'-dihydroxy-6',7'-didehydro-5,6,5',6'-tetrahydro-12',13',20'-trinor-b,b-caroten-19,11-olide
    • Pyrrhoxanthininol 5,6-epoxy-3,3'-dihydroxy-7',8'-didehydro-5,6-dihydro-12',13',20'-trinor-b,b-caroten-19,11-olide
    • Semi-a-carotenone 5,6-Seco-b,e-carotene-5,6-dione
    • Semi-b-carotenone 5,6-seco-b,b-carotene-5,6-dione or 5',6'-seco-b,b-carotene-5',6'-dione
    • Triphasiaxanthin 3-Hydroxysemi-b-carotenone 3'-Hydroxy-5,6-seco-b,b-carotene-5,6-dione or 3-hydroxy-5',6'-seco-b,b-carotene-5',6'-dione


  • retro Carotenoids and retro Apo Carotenoids


    • Eschscholtzxanthin 4',5'-Didehydro-4,5'-retro-b,b-carotene-3,3'-diol
    • Eschscholtzxanthone 3'-Hydroxy-4',5'-didehydro-4,5'-retro-b,b-caroten-3-one
    • Rhodoxanthin
      Rhodoxanthin

      Rhodoxanthin is a xanthophyll pigment with a purple color that is found in small quantities in a variety plants including Taxus baccata. It is also found in the feathers of some birds....
       4',5'-Didehydro-4,5'-retro-b,b-carotene-3,3'-dione
    • Tangeraxanthin 3-Hydroxy-5'-methyl-4,5'-retro-5'-apo-b-caroten-5'-one or 3-hydroxy-4,5'-retro-5'-apo-b-caroten-5'-one


  • Higher Carotenoids
    • Nonaprenoxanthin 2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butenyl)-7',8',11',12'-tetrahydro-e,y-carotene
    • Decaprenoxanthin 2,2'-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butenyl)-e,e-carotene
  • C.p. 450 2-[4-Hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-butenyl]-2'-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-b,b-carotene
    • C.p. 473 2'-(4-Hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butenyl)-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-3',4'-didehydro-l',2'-dihydro-b,y-caroten-1'-ol
    • Bacterioruberin 2,2'-Bis(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-3,4,3',4'-tetradehydro-1,2,1',2'-tetrahydro-y,y-carotene-1,1'-dio


See also

  • Phytochemistry
    Phytochemistry

    Phytochemistry is in the strict sense of the word the study of phytochemicals. These are chemicals derived from plants. In a narrower sense the terms are often used to describe the large number of secondary metabolic compounds found in plants....
  • List of phytochemicals and foods in which they are prominent
    List of phytochemicals and foods in which they are prominent

    While there is ample evidence to support the health benefits of diets rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts, evidence that these effects are due to specific nutrients or phytochemicals is limited....


Classifications

Carotenoids can have many classifications. Some are alcohols, hydrocarbons, ethers, epoxides, ketones, acids, etc. They can be classified also into Apo Carotenoids, Nor and Seco Carotenoids, retro Carotenoids, retro Apo Carotenoids and Higher Carotenoids.

External links