Main Carotenoids Produced by Microorganisms
Sonia Martínez-Cámara, Ana Ibáñez, Sara Rubio, Carlos Barreiro, José-Luis Barredo
Abstract
Carotenoids are the pigments present in plants, animals, and microorganisms which are responsible for a broad variety of colors found in nature. Their capacity as antioxidants mainly established their marketable success as health, food, and feed supplements, and cosmetics components. Currently, chemical synthesis dominates the worldwide market; however, due to the high biological value of natural carotenoids, the production scheme is moving towards microbial production as a profitable alternative.
Topics & Concepts
CarotenoidMicroorganismCosmeticsBiotechnologyFood scienceHealth benefitsBiologyProduction (economics)Human healthBusinessBiochemical engineeringChemistryBacteriaEngineeringEconomicsTraditional medicineMedicineEnvironmental healthOrganic chemistryGeneticsMacroeconomicsAntioxidant Activity and Oxidative StressAlgal biology and biofuel productionMicrobial Metabolism and Applications