Technological advances in the production of carotenoids and their applications- A critical review

Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments that are widely distributed in algae, fungi, bacteria, and plants. Carotenoids play a significant role in the food, feed, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. These pigments are effectively considered as a health-promoting compounds, which are widely used in our daily diet to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, acute lung injury, cataracts, neural disorders, etc. In this context, this review paper demonstrates the synthesis of carotenoids and their potential application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. However, the demand for carotenoid production is increasing overtime, and the extraction and production are expensive and technically challenging. The recent developments in carotenoid biosynthesis, and key challenges, bottlenecks, and future perspectives were also discussed to enhance the circular bioeconomy.

Automated summary

Carotenoids are natural pigments found in algae, fungi, bacteria, and plants. They have significant applications in various industries such as food, feed, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. Carotenoids are known for their health benefits and are commonly used in our daily diet to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. This review paper focuses on the synthesis of carotenoids and their potential use in the food and pharmaceutical industries, discussing the challenges and future perspectives for the advancement of circular bioeconomy.