Carotenoid Pigment: Significance as a Natural Food Colourant and Factors Affecting its Isolation

Abstract

Carotenoids are the valuable bio-active constituent of many fruits and vegetables and are the most abundant group of pigments which are responsible for the yellow-orange pigmentation. Carotenoids play a potential role in human body by protecting cells and tissues from the damaging effects of free radicals and singlet oxygen. Researchers have reported that carotenoids may provide a variety of potential health-promoting functions. Therefore, these pigments have been used in the prevention or protection against human health disorders. Various natural sources have been explored in recent years with high concentration of carotenoid pigment. Factors such as moisture, particle size, temperature, enzyme, solid-solvent ratio, etc. affect the isolation efficiency, yield and stability of extracted pigment. This review highlights the effect of these factors on the isolation of carotenoids.