Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

This photo shows steam rising from hot and sterile deep azure blue water in the center surrounded by huge mats of brilliant orange algae and bacteria.

Carotenoids in green plants protect the chlorophylls from overexposure to sunlight

Carotenoids are colored pigments that are abundant in green, yellow-orange, and red fruits and vegetables

For more than two decades epidemiological studies have associated the high consumption of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables to a lower risk for human cancers

Colorful carotenoids decorate the integument of animals

Marine Carotenoids

Marigolds are source of Lutein and Zeaxanthin

two dietary carotenoids that have been implicated in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration

Click here for a report on the 16th International Symposium, Krakow, Poland, July 17 - 22, 2011
ICS Awards at the 16th International Symposium on Carotenoids, July 17 – 22, 2011, Krakow Poland. Click here for details

Publication of the proceedings of the 16th International Symposium on Carotenoids, Krakow, Poland, July 17 – 22, 2011. We are glad to inform you that all participants of the 16th Int. Symposium on Carotenoids are invited to publish their presentations in a special issue of Acta Biochimica Polonica. Click here for Symposium Proceedings

Permalink

CAROTENOIDS IN THE NEWS

New Colours for Carotenoids – Synthesis of Pyran Polyenes

In memory of Professor Dr. Hans-Dieter Martin
A new type of carotenoid has been synthesized with a 2H-pyran ring placed in the polyene chain. This compound was successively elongated by Wittig reactions. The pyran-carotenoids obtained show a significant increased λmax compared with carotenoids lacking the pyran ring. A further remarkable bathochromic shift was observed upon protonation to pyranium-carotenoids. The pyranium ring is the distinctive feature of anthocyanidin dyes and has now become an internal part of carotenoids. Eur. J. Chem. 2010, 435 – 439.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/...

Astaxanthin, a Carotenoid with Potential in Human Health and Nutrition

Astaxanthin (1), a red-orange carotenoid pigment, is a powerful biological antioxidant that occurs naturally in a wide variety of living organisms. The potent antioxidant property of 1 has been implicated in its various biological activities demonstrated in both experimental animals and clinical studies. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/np050354%2B

Total Synthesis of (3R,3′R,6′R)-Lutein and Its Stereoisomers

(3R,3′R,6′R)-Lutein (1) is a major dietary carotenoid that is abundant in most fruits and vegetables commonly consumed in the U.S. and that accumulates in the human plasma, major organs, and ocular tissues. Numerous epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that 1 has important biological activities and may play an important role in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A relatively straightforward methodology for the total synthesis of 1 and three of its stereoisomers has been developed. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jo900432r

The Society

Member Account Access

Companies who have donated funds to the ICS web site

Producers of Carotenoid Standards