Tags: Chemical Compound, Chemical Substance.
β-carotene (beta-carotine) is a strongly colored red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits. It is an organic compound and chemically is classified as a hydrocarbon and specifically as a terpenoid (isoprenoid) reflecting its derivation from isoprene units. β-Carotene is biosynthesized from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. It is a member of the carotenes which are tetraterpenes synthesized biochemically from eight isoprene units and thus having 40 carbons.
