CHAPTERIX 

 The distribution of carotenoids in nature 



Since the discovery of carotene by Wackenroder in 183 1, the distribution 

 of carotenoids in nature has been much investigated. Extensive studies have 

 shown that polyene pigments are present in the whole of the vegetable and 

 animal kingdoms. In the following sections the occurrence of polyene pigments 

 is summarised in tabular form. The following arrangement is used: 



A. Carotenoids in plants : 



1. Phanerogams 



(a) Unexposed parts of plants 



(b) Exposed parts of plants 



(c) Blossoms 



(d) Fruit 



2. Cryptogams 



B. Carotenoids in amimals: 



1. Invertebrates 



(a) Arthropods 



(b) Molluscs 



(c) Echinoderms 



(d) Worms 



(e) Coelenterates and sponges 



(f) Chordata 



2. Vertebrates 



(a) Mammals 



(b) Birds 



(c) Fish 



(d) Amphibia 



(e) Reptiles 



(f) Miscellaneous 



It should be mentioned that only limited significance can be attached to 

 some of the older investigations which were carried out without the use of 

 Tswett's chromatography. In most cases, they merely indicate that the 



