Carotenoids Contents from Various Sources and Their Potential Health Applications

Carotenoids are the class of hydrocarbons, widespread in nature and important pigments in living organisms. They are present in foods such as carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and other deep green, yellow, orange, red fruits, sea buckthorn berries, common vegetables and some numerous vegetable oils, of which Palm oil and palm oil products contains the highest known concentration of carotenoids. Palm oil products are the good sources of carotenoids in nature. The role of carotenoids in health application has been explained. The present paper describes the chemistry of important carotenoids, their various sources and uses in health applications.