Commercialization and Marketing Potential of Carotenoids

Carotenoids are non-nitrogenous molecules, which possess a basic linear, symmetrical skeleton of 40-carbon tetraterpene assembled from eight 5-carbon isoprenoid units joined such that the order is reversed at the center. They are present in an extensive array of natural milieus, such as in the plant kingdom, oceans, glaciers, hot springs, and salt ponds. The carotenoids studies increased significantly as chromatography was developed. Chemists, food scientists and nutritionists are, however, disconnected by different skills, and professional disciplines. Till now this interdisciplinary split has not been bridged sufficiently. Although research has been done mainly on the production of carotenoids-fortified crops, major firms are targeting the pharmaceutical, cosmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and food/feed segments where carotenoids are used as commodities as well as luxury products. Chromatographic techniques enabled purification and identification of substances and the separation of components in complex mixtures consisting of similar compounds. Blurring of the lines between the traditional fields of chemistry and biology has unveiled new prospects of carotenoids. The chapter offers a very rich panorama of authoritative opinions indicating commercial and market potential of carotenoids.