Abstract
Carotenoids currently play an important and key role in scientific research. Despite the prevalence of carotenoids, there are still some unexplored issues related to variable bioavailability. In this regard, there is a need to study their physical and chemical properties. Thus, the study of carotenoids from plant raw materials is an urgent direction in our modern science and aimed at their application in pharmaceutical industries. They are important biologically active compounds that have activity and are widely used in various industries, especially pharmaceutical ones. Their chemical structure determines their biological activity and physico-chemical properties. The relevance of the study is due to its antioxidant properties. Carotenoids are important for human health and as a precursor to the synthesis of vitamin A, while they have cytoprotective and other properties. The purpose of this work is to extract carotenoids from plant raw materials (corn and beetroot) and structural characteristics using spectroscopic analysis methods. It was found that the studied carotenoids possess a system of conjugated double bonds, confirmed with the obtained data by IR spectroscopy. IR spectroscopy helped identify the characteristic fluctuations of C-H, C=C bonds, confirming the presence of a polyene chain. The absence of a crystalline order was also revealed by the results of X-ray diffraction analysis, which indicates the amorphous nature of the structure. The results obtained are of practical importance for the pharmaceutical and food industries and provide important information about the molecular structure of carotenoids. The data on the amorphous structure helps to optimize the methods of stabilization and preservation of activity in the development of biologically active additives. Studies show their effect on metabolism and the induction of intercellular connections through gap junctions. Thus, carotenoids have a positive effect on a wide range of cellular processes and further research is needed to fully understand their potential in disease prevention and treatment.