red to yellow carotenoids, unsaturated tetraterpene hydrocarbons. Accessory and photoprotective pigments in chloroplasts and in chromoplasts in some fruits and in carrot roots., a precursor of vitamin A occurring naturally in plants. It consists of 3 isomers; about 15% alpha, 85% beta, and 0,1% gamma. It is a member of a large class of pigments called carotenoids. It has the same basic molecular structure as vitamin A and is transformed to the vitamin in the liver., karotinoidide hulka kuuluv oranžpunanenvõi kollakasruuge taimne pigment, A-provitamiin