胡萝卜素为绿色植物体中普遍存在红色色素的一种,包括α,β及γ胡萝卜素及玉米黄素。此等色素均与维生素 A 一样含有白芷酮环活性基团,故亦具有维生素 A 的生理作用。很多国家在订定维生素 A 的标准需要量上都包含一部分的胡萝卜素。由此可见,作为副食品的果蔬中胡萝卜素合量的高低与人类的营养有重要的关系。胡萝卜素类色素的化学性质均相近似,不易分离。直至1906年俄国学者 Carotene is one of the red pigment commonly found in green plants, including α, β and γ-carotene and zeaxanthin. These pigments, like vitamin A, contain the active group of angelica ring, so it also has the physiological effect of vitamin A. Many countries include a portion of carotene in their standard requirements for setting vitamin A levels. Thus, as a non-staple food, the level of carotene in fruits and vegetables and human nutrition has an important relationship. Carotene pigment chemical properties are similar, not easy to separate. Until 1906 Russian scholar