Beta-carotene is a cyclic carotene obtained by dimerisation of all-trans-retinol. A strongly-coloured red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruit and the most active and important provitamin A carotenoid. It has a role as a biological pigment, a provitamin A, a plant metabolite, a human metabolite, a mouse metabolite, a cofactor, a ferroptosis inhibitor and an antioxidant. It is a cyclic carotene and a carotenoid beta-end derivative.