Sigma-Aldrich™ β-Carotene, Synthetic, ≥93% (UV), Powder

Sigma-Aldrich™ β-Carotene is a synthetic carotenoid supplied as a dark red to brown crystalline powder with a purity of ≥93% (UV assay). As the most important of the provitamins A, β-carotene is widely used in nutritional, biochemical, and antioxidant research. It exhibits antioxidant potential, inhibiting radical-initiated lipid peroxidation in vitro, and functions in vivo as either an antioxidant or prooxidant depending on the cellular environment.

This compound is valued in research on cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, and dietary vitamin A supplementation. It also serves as a standard for analytical methods such as HPLC.

Key Features

• Synthetic carotenoid – supplied as dark red to brown powder.
• Assay ≥93% (UV) – validated quality.
• Provitamin A activity – ~1,600,000 vitamin A units/g.
• Antioxidant function – inhibits lipid peroxidation in vitro.
• Research-grade – suitable for use as analytical standard or dietary research supplement.

Applications

• Analytical standard – β-carotene evaluation in blood, skin, and food samples (HPLC).
• Nutritional research – dietary supplementation studies in animal models.
• Bioavailability studies – formulation of nanoemulsions and delivery systems for lipophilic carotenoids.
• Oxidative stress studies – research into cancer, cardiovascular disease, and macular degeneration.

Technical Specifications

Sigma-Aldrich™ β-Carotene, synthetic, ≥93% (UV), powder offers researchers a reliable carotenoid standard for analytical, nutritional, and biomedical research. Its role as provitamin A and antioxidant, combined with its validated purity, makes it an essential reagent for laboratories studying oxidative stress, dietary bioavailability, and vitamin A supplementation.