Significance of Carotenoids in Traditional Medicines in the Republic of Suriname (South America)

Abstract

Carotenoids are pigments that produce bright yellow, red, orange, and purple colors in some vegetables and fruits. These compounds play major roles in various critical functions of plants. Carotenoids are also indispensable for humans, exerting antioxidant effects and sustaining both low-light and color vision. The more than 700 different types of carotenoids can be divided into two classes: the carotenes (e.g., β-carotene and lycopene) which do not contain oxygen, and the xanthophylls (e.g., lutein and zeaxanthin) which contain oxygen. In addition, some carotenoids such as β-carotene and α-carotene can be converted by the human body into vitamins A; lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene are non-provitamin A carotenoids. The Republic of Suriname (South America) is renowned for its relatively high plant diversity which comprises about 5100 species of higher plants. Several of these plants have a relatively high content of carotenoids and are widely consumed and used as traditional medicines. In this chapter, the traditional uses of eight Surinamese fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids have been addressed, and the pharmacological support for their traditional uses has comprehensively been dealt with. The chapter concludes with the scientific evidence to justify the traditional uses of the carotenoids in these plants.