Carotenoids are a group of naturally occurring polyene pigments belonging to the carotene family. Chemically, they are long-chain acyclic polyenes derived from the isoprenoid pathway. These compounds are widely distributed across biological kingdoms and fulfill multiple critical functions. Biologically, they are essential components of the photosynthetic apparatus in plants, absorbing light energy and transferring it to reaction centers. Furthermore, due to their highly unsaturated nature, carotenoids are potent antioxidants that help stabilize biological molecules and protect cellular membranes from damage caused by reactive oxygen species. They are also responsible for the characteristic yellow, orange, and red pigmentation observed in many organisms.