as biological antioxidants, protecting cells and tissues from the
damaging effects of free radicals and singlet oxygen and are used
as natural colourants in the food industry (Oreopoulou & Tzia,
2007). In this study, the freeze-dried peel of red cashew
(256.90 mg b-carotene/100 g DW) showed a higher total carotenoid
content, followed by yellow cashew (172.32 mg b-carotene/
100 g DW) and purple star apple (59.02 mg b-carotene/
100 g DW). The values of total carotenoids found in the present
study are superior to those reported for orange peel, mandarin peel
and grapefruit peel (from 2.25 to 11.03 mg of b-carotene/
100 g DW) (Rincón et al., 2005).