Beta-Carotene Guide

β-Carotene is an organic compound and classified as a terpenoid. It is a strongly-coloured red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits. As a carotene with beta-rings at both ends, it is the most common form of carotene. It is a precursor (inactive form) of vitamin A.[3]

The structure was deduced by Karrer et al. in 1930.[4] In nature, β-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A via the action of beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase. β-Carotene is also the substance in carrots that colours them orange. β-Carotene is biosynthesized from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.[3] Isolation of beta-carotene from fruits abundant in carotenoids is commonly done using column chromatography. The separation of beta-carotene from the mixture of carotenoids is based on the polarity of a compound. Beta-carotene is a non-polar compound, so it is separated with a non-polar solvent such as hexane.[5] Being highly conjugated, it is deeply colored, and as a hydrocarbon lacking functional groups, it is very lipophilic....