| Member | Definition | Role |
|---|
| astaxanthine | A carotenone that consists of beta,beta-carotene-4,4'-dione bearing two hydroxy substituents at positions 3 and 3' (the 3S,3'S diastereomer). A carotenoid pigment found mainly in animals (crustaceans, echinoderms) but also occurring in plants. It can occur free (as a red pigment), as an ester, or as a blue, brown or green chromoprotein. | astaxanthin |
| cryptoxanthins | A carotenol that exhibits antioxidant activity. It has been isolated from fruits such as papaya and oranges. | beta-cryptoxanthin |
| lutein | | lutein |
| meso-zeaxanthin | A carotenol that is beta,beta-carotene carrying two hydroxy substituents at positions 3 and 3' (the 3R,3'S-diastereomer). It is rarely found in diet and is believed to be formed at the macula by metabolic transformations of ingested carotenoids. | meso-zeaxanthin |
| rhodopin | A carotenol having the structure of 1,2-dihydro-psi,psi-carotene with a hydroxy function at C-1. | rhodopin |
| zeaxanthin | | zeaxanthin |
| zeinoxanthin | A carotenol, the structure of which is (6'R)-beta,epsilon-carotene hydroxy-substituted at C-3 with R-stereochemistry. | zeinoxanthin |