Abstract: β-cryptoxanthin has the functions such as antioxidant defense and intercellular communication, while its most important function in vivo is to involve the synthesis of vitamin A as a precursor. In vitro animal models and human studies have shown that the β-cryptoxanthin derived from food has higher biological utilization ratio than α-carotene and β-carotene. In recent years, more and more studies at home and abroad are focusing on β-carotene, while the reports on β-cryptoxanthin were limited. In this article, the structure, composition and biological functions of β-cryptoxanthin are summarized,in hoping to provide useful information for better understanding of carotenoids.