Recent advances in the extraction, synthesis, biological activities, and stabilisation strategies for -carotene: a review

beta-carotene is a natural carotenoid pigment that widely exists in various fruits and vegetables, possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other biological activities. This makes it highly suitable for the development of nutritional functional foods and cosmetics. However, its poor water solubility and physical and chemical instability hinder its actual bioavailability. Therefore, adopting a rational stabilisation strategy to improve the stability and bioavailability of beta-carotene is a feasible approach. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the properties, biological activities, extraction methods, and synthesis methods of beta-carotene. It also highlights the research progress and current applications of beta-carotene-loaded systems with the aim to offer valuable references for developing stable systems and expanding its application scope.