Carotenoids properties

CAROTENOIDS

Carotenes and carotenoids

Flavonoids or bioflavonoids

Properties of the catechins

Functions of anthocyanins

Importance of resveratrol

Characteristics of carotenoids

Carotenoids are a very important group of organic pigments with antioxidant functions. These can be divided in two groups:

- Carotenes, They are those carotenoids with a reddish-orange color. Within carotene we would have the following:

Beta carotene: beta carotenes are precursors of vitamin A. It is a plant pigment that, once ingested, it is converted in the liver and small intestine in vitamin A. It is an antioxidant component that favors the non-appearance of cancer, especially lung, mouth and stomach cancers. It has also been shown to prevent the occurrence of heart disease. (More information on this component)
The alpha-carotene: With more outstanding properties as an antioxidant than beta-carotene, appears in the same foods as this though to a lesser extent.
Lycopene: Lycopene, the component which gives tomatoes their red coloration. With similar properties to beta-carotene from carrots, it has anticancer properties. Lycopene appears to reduce some types of cancer, especially prostate, lung, stomach, bladder, lung, stomach and cervix cancers. It also has properties to reduce cholesterol in blood and to prevent the inflammations of the prostate.
Cryptoxanthin: With more outstanding properties as an antioxidant than beta-carotene, appears in the same foods as this though to a lesser extent.

- Xanthophylls, They are those carotenoids that have a yellow and brown color (carotenes). Among the most important xanthophylls we would have the following:

Lutein: fat-soluble yellowish pigment that appears on algae, bacteria and higher plants. Its role would be to protect the plant from solar radiation. This same property is effective to protect the human retina of the sun's ultraviolet radiation
Zeaxanthin: With similar properties to lutein
Capsanthin: Capsanthin is a pigment found in red peppers along with other carotenoids such as capsorubin. It has antioxidant properties.

More information on components of medicinal plants in the listing above