Current Market Trend, Science and Challenges in Palm Carotenes and Tocotrienols
Crude palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the pulp of the fruit of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). Originating in West Africa, oil palm is now commonly found in the Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. By nature, crude palm oil possesses a high concentration of carotenes (500-700 ppm) and tocotrienols (up to 1000 ppm). Carotenes (alpha-carotenes and beta-carotenes) are dark red compounds. They are widely used as natural food colourants in the food and beverage industry, whereas tocotrienols, due to their unique health properties, have started to gain popularity among the manufacturers of dietary supplements and producers of functional foods and beverages as well as cosmetic companies in recent years.