Xanthophylls are a class of yellow pigments found in plants that are a subgroup of carotenoids. They contain oxygen, giving them a more polar structure than carotenes. Xanthophylls play an important role in photosynthesis and protecting plants from excess light. They are also antioxidants that provide many health benefits for humans, such as protecting eye health and reducing inflammation. Lutein is one of the most common xanthophylls found in many plants and foods like kale and spinach. It accumulates in the retina and has been shown to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

1. CAROTENOIDS
CAROTENE XANTHOPHYLL

2. XANTHOPH
YLL
Xanthophylls (originally phylloxanthins) are yellow pigments that occur widely in nature
and of form one two major divisions of the carotenoid group; the other division is formed
by the carotenes.
The molecular structure of xanthophylls is similar to that of carotenes, but xanthophylls
contain oxygen atoms, while carotenes are purely hydrocarbons with no oxygen.
Xanthophylls contain their oxygen either as hydroxyl groups or as pairs of hydrogen atoms
that are substituted by oxygen atoms acting as a bridge (epoxide). For this reason, they are
more polar than the purely hydrocarbon carotenes, and it is this difference that allows their
separations from carotenes in many types of chromatography. Typically, carotenes are more
orange in color than xanthophylls.

3. Like other carotenoids, xanthophylls are found in highest
quantity in the leaves of most green plants.
The xanthophyll found in the bodies of animals, and in
dietary animal products, are ultimately derived from plant
sources in the diet.
 For example, the yellow color of chicken egg yolks, fat, and
skin comes from ingested xanthophylls (primarily lutein,
which is often added to chicken feed for this purpose).
OCCURENCE

4. ROLE OF XANTHOPHYLL
 These are the yellow pigment of leaves and are classified as accessory
pigments which absorbs the wavelength that chlorophyll cannot
absorb.
 They serve as protection to excessive amount of sunlight to prevent
further damage in the plant.
 Three kinds of Xanthophyll are :-Canthaxanthein, xeaxanthein, lutein.
 They are also considered as antioxidants.
 They play significant roles in human health, particularly the health of
eyes, and are linked with reduced risk of age-related macular
degeneration and cataracts.

5.  Acting as antioxidant.
 Boosting your blood.
 Boosting your eyes.
 Boosting your immune system.
 Boosting your reproductive health.
 Preventing arthritis.
 PREVENTING GUM DISEASE:- If you suffer from gum disease then you
might want to start eating more astaxanthin rich foods.
 Preventing mental disorders.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF XANTHOPHYLL

6.  Protecting against UV damage:- Ultraviolet (UV) rays are invisible
rays of energy that come from the sun. They are extremely
dangerous and can cause skin cancer. Canthaxanthein and lutein
can keep all the body’s cell safe from harmful effects.
 Reducing unnecessary inflammation.
 Supports healthy growth.
 Supports pregnant and lactating women.
 Treating diabetes:- In Diabetes blood glucose levels become
dangerously high as a result of your body’s cells failing to respond to
insulin (a hormone which allows your body’s cells to take glucose
from blood) or your pancreas failing to produce enough insulin. If
left untreated, diabetes can seriously damage your body’s cells and
vital organs. Fortunately, provisional evidence suggests that
astaxanthin may be able to treat diabetes.

7. LUTEIN
 Lutein is a xanthophyll, synthesized only by plants like other
xanthophyll.
 Lutein is obtained by animals by ingesting plants.
 In the human retina, lutein is absorbed from blood specifically into
the macula lutea, although its precise role in the body is unknown.
Lutein is also found in egg yolks and animal fats.
 Lutein is a lipophilic molecule, generally insoluble in water.
 Lutein has been used in food and supplement manufacturing as a
colorant due to its yellow-red color.
 Lutein absorbs blue light and therefore appears yellow at low
concentrations and orange-red at high concentrations

8.  Lutein is a natural part of human diet when orange-yellow fruits and
leafy green vegetables are consumed.
 Foods rich in lutein include broccoli, spinach, kale, corn, orange pepper,
kiwi fruit, grapes, orange juice, zucchini, and squash.
 Cooked kale and cooked spinach top the list in richness of lutein.
 Many multivitamins contain lutein. They usually provide a relatively
small amount of 0.25 mg per tablet
 People consuming 6.9 to 11.7 mg of lutein per day through diet had the
lowest risk of developing AMD and cataracts.
SOURCE OF LUTEIN

9. • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD):- People who consume higher
amounts of lutein in their diet have a reduced risk of developing AMD.
However, increasing dietary intake of lutein might not reduce the risk of
AMD in people who already have a high intake of lutein. Taking lutein
supplements for up to 12 months can improve some symptoms of AMD,
but it does not seem to prevent AMD from becoming worse.
• Cataracts. Some studies suggest that eating higher amounts of lutein
might decrease the risk of developing cataracts. Also, early research
suggests that taking lutein three times weekly for up to 2 years can
improve vision in elderly people with cataracts.
USES

10. • Lutein is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth appropriately. Consuming 6.9-
11.7 mg/day of lutein as part of the diet appears to be safe. Lutein
supplements have been used safely in studies in doses up to 15 mg daily for
up to 2 years.
MARKET
PREPARATION