ABSTRACT
References ............................................................................................................. 572
The carotenoids are very widespread natural pigments, not only in plants but also in bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae, and nonmammalian animals. Familiar examples of coloration by carotenoids include the yellow of sunflowers, the orange of carrots and oranges, the red of tomatoes, the gold of goldfish, the pink of salmon flesh, and red and yellow feathers of birds such as goldfinches. The recently published Carotenoids Handbook [1] lists some 750 different carotenoids that have been isolated from natural sources. Of these, about 500 have been characterized satisfactorily.
