Analysis of carotenoids in vegetable and plasma samples: A review

Some carotenoids, besides provitamin A activity, have antioxidant capacity. These properties together with epidemiological studies that establish an association between a high vegetable intake and a lower risk of chronic degenerative diseases, such as certain types of cancer or cardiovascular diseases have increased the interest on the analysis of carotenoids in vegetable samples as well as in human plasma and serum samples. The present paper is an updated review on the analysis of carotenoids in vegetable, plasma and serum samples. Traditional liquid–liquid extraction, as well as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is reviewed. General aspects of chromatographic analysis are commented on, and examples of carotenoids separation in different samples are shown.