CAROTENOIDS suppliers

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• United Kingdom(1)

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• Trader

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Carotenoids are a large class of pigments usually located in the thylakoid membranes of the grana in chloroplasts, in the form of carotenoprotein complexes. The general structure of carotenoids is that of aliphatic and aliphatic-alicyclic polyenes with a few aromatic-polyenes. They are widely distributed in plants and act as photosynthetic pigments in cells that lack chlorophyll. They have the same basic structure as vitamin A, and are converted into vitamin A in animal livers. More than 300 carotenoids are known and this number is on the rise. There are several biochemical functions in which carotenoids play a role, apart from their well-known role as photosynthetic pigments. Carotenoids act as blue light harvesting pigments, protect biological systems from photodynamic damage and are safe food colorants.