Capsanthin that is uniquely found in capsicum spp. is a fat soluble red pigment. It is synthesized during carotene formation and increases lipid solubility through esterizing with short-chain saturated fatty acids.Capsanthin is considered as a functional material with antioxidative activity and anti-tumor-promotion activity, although it doesn't exhibit provitamin A activity. Capsanthin is found distributed at the polar surfaces of lipoproteins in abundance, and the clearance of capsanthin is much faster than those of lycopene in the human body. Capsanthin and derivatives have been analyzed and identified by diverse techniques as spectrophotometry, TLC, HPLC, LC/MS, NMR, and FABMS/MS, etc.

Dietary capsanthin, the primary carotenoid in paprika (Capsicum annuum), changes plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels and hepato gene expression in rats.