Chemistry, Occurrence, Properties, Applications, and Encapsulation of Carotenoids-A Review

Carotenoids are natural lipophilic pigments and antioxidants that are present in many fruits and vegetables. The consumption of carotenoids is correlated with positive health effects and a decreased risk of several chronic diseases. Provitamin A carotenoids (beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, gamma-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin) are essential for the development and maintenance of sight. beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and lycopene have high antioxidant activity and promote free radical scavenging, which helps protect against chronic diseases. However, carotenoids are chemically unstable and prone to oxidation in the presence of light, heat, oxygen, acids, and metal ions. The use of carotenoids in the food industry is limited due to their poor solubility in water, bioavailability and quick release. Encapsulation techniques, such as microencapsulation, nanoencapsulation and supercritical encapsulation, are used to overcome these problems. The objective of this paper is to describe the characteristics and potential health benefits of carotenoids and advances in encapsulation techniques for protecting and enhancing their solubility or bioavailability.

Automated summary

Carotenoids are natural lipophilic pigments and antioxidants found in many fruits and vegetables. They have positive health effects and can decrease the risk of chronic diseases. However, due to their chemical instability and poor solubility, their use in the food industry is limited. Encapsulation techniques are employed to overcome these issues.