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Structure of carotenoids

Below some structures of common carotenoids. This page shows the chemical diversity and presence of the different types of carotenoids.

antheraxanthin

present in many plants, especially maize

astaxanthin

present in : salmon, shrimp, lobster, flamingo feathers, algae

canthaxanthin

present in : salmon, shrimp, cantharel and other mushrooms, algae, flamingo feathers

capsanthin

present in : peppers, paprika

α-carotene

present in carrots, most green plants

ß-carotene

present in carrots and most other plants

ε-carotene

present in most green plants

γ-carotene

present in many plants, often with ß-carotene

ζ-carotene

present in many plants

α-cryptoxanthin

present in many coloured plants, including maize and papaya

diatoxanthin

present in algae and corals

7,8-didehydroastaxanthin

present in : salmon and crustaceans

fucoxanthin

fucoxanthinol

present in many algae and seaweed

lactucaxanthin

present in algae

lutein

present in many green plants

lycopene

present in many plants, especially in tomato

neoxanthin

present in the chloroplasts (green particles) of most plants

neurosporene

present in many plants, intermediate compound between carotene and lycopene

peridinin

present in the chloroplasts (green particles) of most plants

phytoene

present in many plants

rhodopin

present in many red bacteria

siphonaxanthin

present in many red algae

spheroidene

present in many red bacteria

spheroidenone

present in many red bacteria

spirilloxanthin

present in many red bacteria

violaxanthin

present in many plants, especially from the Viola family (pansies)

zeaxanthin

present in many plants, especially in maize

Based on : http://dcb-carot.unibe.ch/carotint.htm and http://www.carotenoidsociety.org/