Antioxidant behaviour of carotenoids highly accumulated in HepG2 cells

► Antioxidant behaviour of carotenoids and tocopherol in HepG2 cells was evaluated. ► β-Carotene and astaxanthin accumulated in cells suppressed lipid peroxidation. ► β-Cryptoxanthin and lutein did not suppress lipid peroxidation. ► Neither α-tocopherol nor carotenoids, except for lycopene, showed pro-oxidant action.