Carotenoids

The term carotene (also carotin, from the Latin carota, "carrot") is used for many related unsaturated hydrocarbon substances having the formula C40Hx, which are synthesized by plants but in general cannot be made by animals (with the sole known exception of some aphids and spider mites which acquired the synthetic genes from fungi).

Carotenoids, also called tetraterpenoids, are organic pigments that are found in the chloroplasts and chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms, including some bacteria and some fungi.

Lycopene from the neo-Latin lycopersicum, the tomato species, is a bright red carotene and carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons, gac, and papayas, although not in strawberries, or cherries.

3'-Hydroxyechinenone is a keto-carotenoid pigment found in cyanobacteria.

Astaxanthin /æstəˈzænθᵻn/ is a keto-carotenoid.

Fucoxanthin is a xanthophyll, with formula C42H58O6.

Zeaxanthin is one of the most common carotenoid alcohols found in nature.

Neoxanthin is a carotenoid and xanthophyll.

Lutein (/ˈluːtiː.ᵻn/ or /ˈluːtiːn/; from Latin luteus meaning "yellow") is a xanthophyll and one of 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids.

Diatoxanthin is a type of xanthophyll found in phytoplankton and diatoms.

Dinoxanthin is a type of xanthophyll found in dinoflagellates.

Diadinoxanthin is a pigment found in a type of plankton.

Violaxanthin is a natural xanthophyll pigment with an orange color found in a variety of plants including pansies.

Echinenone is a xanthophyll, with formula C40H54O.

Carotenoid oxygenases are a family of enzymes involved in the cleavage of carotenoids to produce, for example, retinol, commonly known as vitamin A.

Rhodoxanthin is a xanthophyll pigment with a purple color that is found in small quantities in a variety of plants including Taxus baccata.

Canthaxanthin /ˌkænθəˈzænθɪn/ is a keto-carotenoid pigment widely distributed in nature.

Phytoene (FY-toe-een) is a 40-carbon intermediate in the biosynthesis of carotenoids.

Damascones are a series of closely related chemical compounds that are components of a variety of essential oils.

Isorenieratene /ˌaɪsoʊrəˈnɪərətiːn/ is a carotenoid light harvesting pigment with the chemical formula C40H48.

ε-Carotene is a carotene.

γ-Carotene is a carotenoid, and is a biosynthetic intermediate for cyclized carotenoid synthesis in plants.

Rubixanthin, or natural yellow 27, is a natural xanthophyll pigment with a red-orange color found in rose hips.

Peridinin is a light-harvesting carotenoid, a pigment associated with chlorophyll and found in the peridinin-chlorophyll-protein (PCP) light-harvesting complex in dinoflagellates, best studied in Amphidinium carterae.

Crocetin is a natural carotenoid dicarboxylic acid that is found in the crocus flower and Gardenia jasminoides (fruits).

α-Carotene is a form of carotene with a β-ionone ring at one end and an α-ionone ring at the opposite end.

Meso-zeaxanthin (3R,3´S-zeaxanthin, see Figure 1) is a xanthophyll carotenoid (as it contains oxygen and hydrocarbons), and is one of the three stereoisomers of zeaxanthin.

Damascenones are a series of closely related chemical compounds that are components of a variety of essential oils.

Neurosporene is a carotenoid pigment.

β-Zeacarotene is a carotenoid.

Rhodopin (1,2-dihydro-ψ,ψ-caroten-1-ol) is a carotenoid.

Mutatochrome (5,8-epoxy-β-carotene) is a carotenoid.

Phytofluene is a carotenoid pigment with an orange color found naturally in tomatoes and other vegetables.

ζ-Carotene (zeta-carotene) is a carotene.

Cryptoxanthin is a natural carotenoid pigment.

Antheraxanthin (from ánthos, Greek for "flower" and xanthos, Greek for "yellow") is a bright yellow accessory pigment found in many organisms that perform photosynthesis.

Tretinoin is the pharmaceutical form of retinoic acid.

β-Carotene is an organic, strongly colored red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits.

Prephytoene diphosphate is a carotenoid precursor.

Torulene (3',4'-didehydro-β,γ-carotene) is a carotene (a hydrocarbon carotenoid) which is notable for being synthesized by red pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), imparting the natural red color to the aphids, which aids in their camouflage and escape from predation.

δ-Carotene or ε,ψ-carotene is a form of carotene with an ε-ring at one end, and the other uncyclized.

Xanthoxin is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone abscisic acid.

Flavoxanthin is a natural xanthophyll pigment with a golden-yellow color found in small quantities in a variety of plants.