FACTORS AFFECTING CAROTENOID AMOUNT IN CARROTS (Daucus Carota)

Çiğdem Elgin KARABACAK¹ , HAKAN KARABACAK²

Nowadays, increasing interest in healthy nutrition, determining the positive effects of vegetables on human health are increasing the importance of carrot plant which contains plenty of antioxidant substances like carotenoids, ß-carotene and vitamin A. Carrot contains carotenoids such as ?-, ß-, ?-, ?- carotene, lutein, ß-zeacharotene and lycopene, and 60-80% of them are ß-carotene. Carrot is the first carotene isolated vegetable and one of the most important sources of vitamin A. In this study, I investigated the factors affecting the changes in carotenoid levels in carrots which are rich in vitamins, minerals, pulp, antioxidants and carotoneids.

Keywords
Daucus carota L, Carotenoids, Beta carotene, Vitamin A, ß-zeacharotene and Lycopene,