Abstract:

Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment, which was named from maize where it was first extracted. Because it couldn’t be synthesized by human, and it was obtained only from daily dietary food, and could not only protect eyes, but also played an important role in the prevention of aged-related macular degeneration (AMD, the leading cause of blindness), cataract, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and so on, people paid more attention to zeaxanthin in crops. In this study, the properties and source of zeaxanthin, its physiological functions and its biosynthesis pathway were summarized according to new progress. Moreover, its extraction, measurement methods and application in food industry were also reviewed. In addition, studies on zeaxanthin-rich crops were discussed.