Part I -- Commercial production of astaxanthin by Haematococcus, a green alga -- Commercial production of astaxanthin with Paracoccus carotinifaciens -- Production of carotenoids from cultivated seaweed -- Carotenoid metabolism in aquatic animals -- Carotenoid metabolism in terrestrial animals -- Metabolism of carotenoids in mammals -- Diversity and evolution of carotenoid biosynthesis from prokaryotes to plants -- Engineered maize hybrids with diverse carotenoid profiles and potential applications in animal feeding -- Carotenoid biosynthesis in liverworts -- Metabolic engineeringforcarotenoid productionusing eukaryotic microalgae and prokaryotic cyanobacteria -- Xanthophyllomycesdendrorhous, a versatile platform for the production of carotenoids and other acetyl-CoA derived compounds -- Carotenoid production in oleaginous yeasts -- Haloarchaea: a promising biosource for carotenoid production -- Carotenoid biosynthesis in the phylum Actinobacteria -- When carotenoid biosynthesis genes metEscherichia coli - the early days and these days -- Pathway engineering using Escherichia colitoproducecommercialized carotenoids -- Carotenoid production in Escherichia coli- Case of acyclic carotenoids -- Fecal microflora from dragonflies and its microorganisms producing carotenoids -- Carotenoid biosynthesis in animals -Case of arthropods -- Part II -- Molecular mechanisms of nonalcholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/ nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) -- Prevention of NAFLD/NASH by astaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin Therapeutic potential of astaxanthin in diabetic kidney disease -- Extensive Bioactivity of Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis in Human -- β-Cryptoxanthin from Satsuma mandarin and its multiple functions Health-promoting functions of the marine carotenoid fucoxanthin -- Biological activities of paprika carotenoids, capsanthin and capsorubin.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of carotenoid biosynthesis by different organisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, arthropods, and plants. Carotenoids are thought to provide health benefits in areas such as cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, NAFLD, NASH, obesity, age-related functional decline, and as a result, they have received an increasing amount of attention. With contributions from leading experts in biology, biotechnology, and chemistry of carotenoid research, this volume discusses the biological functions of carotenoids such as astaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and fucoxanthin, in addition to paprika carotenoids, capsanthin, and capsorubin. It also reveals the technologies behind the commercial production of some functional carotenoids. The book is targeted for academic and industrial readers in biology, biotechnology, nutrient physiology and related fields.