Biological activity of carotenoids and their role in human health

Karotenoidi su žuti, narančasti i crveni biljni pigmenti široko rasprostranjeni u prirodi. Danas ih je identificirano preko 600 vrsta, a najpoznatiji i najzastupljeniji u prehrani su β- i α-karoten, likopen, zeaksantin i lutein. Spadaju u skupinu tetraterpena, a njihova struktura daje im specifičnu protektivnu ulogu kako kod biljaka tako i kod ljudi. Zahvaljujući sustavu konjugiranih dvostrukih veza, karotenoidi su moćni antioksidansi. Antioksidacijska aktivnost karotenoida pomaže organizmu pri obrani od djelovanja slobodnih radikala koji uzrokuju oksidativna oštećenja stanica. Imaju i značajan utjecaj na zaštitu organizma od štetnog zračenja, apsorpcijom UV zraka smanjuju nakupljanje reaktivnih čestica koje ubrzavaju starenje i nastanak mnogih bolesti. Neki od karotenoida su provitamini vitamina A, pa su zbog toga dobar izvor vitamina A te su nužni za održavanje zdravlja vida. Karotenoidi su grupa fitokemikalija koja privlači i zaslužuje veliku pažnju na temelju svog pozitivnog utjecaja na zdravlje ljudi.Carotenoids are yellow, orange and red plant pigments widely distributed in nature. There are over 600 species identified today. The best known and most represented in the diet are β- and α-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin and lutein. They belong to the group of tetraterpenes and their structure gives them a specific protective role in both plants and humans. Because of a system of conjugated double bonds, carotenoids are powerful antioxidants. The antioxidant activity of carotenoids helps the body defend itself against the formation of free radicals which are causing oxidative cell damages. They also have a significant role in the body protection from harmful radiation. By absorbing UV rays, they reduce the accumulation of reactive particles that speed up aging and formation of many diseases. Some of the carotenoids are provitamins of vitamin A, so they are a good source of vitamin A and are necessary for maintenance of visual health. Based on their positive impact on human health carotenoids are a group of phytochemicals that attract and deserve great attention