Carotenoids concentration detection investigation: a review of current status and future trend

Abstract

Carotenoids as natural pigment are the class of hydrocarbon and may easily found in vegetables and fruits as well as in human tissue. In human, carotenoids beneficial in health factor as provitamin A, agent of antioxidant, preventing from AMD (age-macular degenartion) in eye disease, reduce risk of prostate cancer, and other high risk disease. Generally, plasma carotenoid appear to be a good indicator and benchmark in measuring total antioxidant status in human using gold standard method, high pressure liquid chromatography, HPLC. Other carotenoids detection area such as macular pigment and skin also give high correlation and significant with plasma carotenoids. Recently, carotenoids detection seem to be more preferrable in animals such as marine life, mammals, non-mammals and birds and as well as in plant. Current status and future trend or direction of detection of carotenoids concentration that have been evaluated with some prediction based on publication among epidermiological and other related studies are presented. The important of planning the direction of carotenoids detection in research activities are identified and suggestions are made for the future research in order to enhance role of carotenoids especially in human as promoting in preventing high risk disease as well as other life for maintaning the environment stability and quality.