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Open Access 01-01-2020 | Review

Carotenoids as natural functional pigments

Author: Takashi Maoka

Published in: Journal of Natural Medicines | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Carotenoids are tetraterpene pigments that are distributed in photosynthetic bacteria, some species of archaea and fungi, algae, plants, and animals. About 850 naturally occurring carotenoids had been reported up until 2018. Photosynthetic bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants can synthesize carotenoids de novo. Carotenoids are essential pigments in photosynthetic organs along with chlorophylls. Carotenoids also act as photo-protectors, antioxidants, color attractants, and precursors of plant hormones in non-photosynthetic organs of plants. Animals cannot synthesize carotenoids de novo, and so those found in animals are either directly accumulated from food or partly modified through metabolic reactions. So, animal carotenoids show structural diversity. Carotenoids in animals play important roles such precursors of vitamin A, photo-protectors, antioxidants, enhancers of immunity, and contributors to reproduction. In the present review, I describe the structural diversity, function, biosyntheses, and metabolism of natural carotenoids.

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Title: Carotenoids as natural functional pigments
Author: Takashi Maoka
Publication date: 01-01-2020
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Published in: Journal of Natural Medicines / Issue 1/2020
Print ISSN: 1340-3443
Electronic ISSN: 1861-0293
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-019-01364-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Carotenoids as natural functional pigments

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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