The history of carotenoid research as this progressed from chemistry to biochemistry and biology is outlined. Proposed roles of carotenoids in eye health, as antioxidants, and in protection against cancer and other degenerative diseases, as well as stimulatory effects on the immune system and metabolism are covered. Proposed biological actions must be consistent with the chemistry of carotenoids in the largely aqueous biological systems, which may differ from the known chemistry of carotenoids in organic solvents. In particular, carotenoids tend to form aggregates. The effects of this aggregation and of other molecular interactions in vivo are likely to be crucial to biological activity. These perspectives of the chemistry of carotenoids and carotenoid free radicals are examined and the need for carotenoid samples used in experimental work to be pure and free from breakdown products and pro-oxidant peroxides is emphasised.

This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Carotenoids recent advances in cell and molecular biology edited by Johannes von Lintig and Loredana Quadro.

概述了从化学到生物化学和生物学的类胡萝卜素研究的历史。涵盖了类胡萝卜素在眼睛健康中作为抗氧化剂，在预防癌症和其他退行性疾病中的作用以及对免疫系统和新陈代谢的刺激作用。拟议的生物作用必须与水性有机系统中类胡萝卜素的化学性质相一致，这可能与已知的有机溶剂中类胡萝卜素的化学性质不同。特别地，类胡萝卜素倾向于形成聚集体。这种聚集和体内其他分子相互作用的影响可能对生物学活性至关重要。

本文是由约翰内斯·冯·林提格（Johannes von Lintig）和洛雷丹娜·夸德罗（Loredana Quadro）编辑的《类胡萝卜素在细胞和分子生物学领域的最新进展》特刊的一部分。