Carotenoids from Marine Sources: General Aspects, Biological Properties and Industrial Applications

Carotenoids represent a prevalent category of pigments within the marine ecosystem. These compounds are not only found in bacteria, yeasts, and fungi but are also present in algae, as well as various vertebrates and invertebrates. Organisms within this environment can modify the structure of carotenoids obtained through their diet. Marine animals acquire carotenoids from sources like algae, including diatoms, dinoflagellates, green algae, blue-green algae, and other organisms within their ecosystem, undergoing metabolic reactions to modify them. Fucoxanthin is a particularly abundant carotenoid in marine environments, followed by acetylenic carotenoids (tedaniaxanthin and alloxanthin). Carotenoids from marine sources reveal potent antioxidant properties, along with antiproliferative, repairing, and anti-inflammatory effects. They can be employed for skin photoprotection to counteract the harmful effects of solar UV radiation. Additionally, these marine carotenoids serve as valuable nutraceutical and cosmeceutical ingredients, aiding in the prevention of diseases linked to oxidative stress. Carotenoids can be extracted from marine organisms, exclusively microorganisms, through the optimization of growth conditions using low-cost and efficient methods. This approach offers an economically viable and environmentally sustainable alternative for carotenoid production. The main aim of this search is to investigate more such sources of bioactive compounds carotenoids from the marine environment and their industrial, and pharmaceutical properties which have been greatly exposed in coming years.