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Carotenoids (/ k ə ˈ r ɒ t ɪ n ɔɪ d /) are yellow, orange, and red organic pigments that are produced by plants and algae, as well as several bacteria, archaea, and fungi. [1] Carotenoids give the characteristic color to pumpkins , carrots , parsnips , corn , tomatoes , canaries , flamingos , salmon , lobster , shrimp , and daffodils .
Carotenoids, in their complexes with other bioactive molecules, can not only improve their bioavailability and facilitate targeted delivery, but themselves have important biological and therapeutic properties. Since they can protect lipid structures from oxidative damage, they can protect their functions as well.
All other carotenoids, including lycopene, have no beta-ring and thus no vitamin A activity (although they may have antioxidant activity and thus biological activity in other ways). Animal species differ greatly in their ability to convert retinyl (beta-ionone) containing carotenoids to retinals. Carnivores in general are poor converters of ...
Carotenoids are the most common group of pigments found in nature. [18] Over 600 different kinds of carotenoids are found in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Marine animals are incapable of making their own carotenoids and thus rely on plants for these pigments. Carotenoproteins are especially common among marine animals.
Carotenoids like lycopene are found in photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes in plants, photosynthetic bacteria, fungi, and algae. [4] They are responsible for the bright orange–red colors of fruits and vegetables, perform various functions in photosynthesis, and protect photosynthetic organisms from excessive light damage.
In addition, there are many non-chlorophyll accessory pigments, such as carotenoids or phycobiliproteins, which also absorb light and transfer that light energy to photosystem chlorophyll. Some of these accessory pigments, in particular the carotenoids, also serve to absorb and dissipate excess light energy, or work as antioxidants. [1]
Antioxidants protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals by bolstering cellular function and reducing oxidative stress. ... Lycopene is a member of the carotenoids family, a group ...
β-Carotene (beta-carotene) is an organic, strongly colored red-orange pigment abundant in fungi, [7] plants, and fruits. It is a member of the carotenes, which are terpenoids (isoprenoids), synthesized biochemically from eight isoprene units and thus having 40 carbons.