Bacillus licheniformis (BL ) strains are used for industrial production of exoenzymes, antibiotics and secondary metabolites, and also serve as probiotics. Some strains sequester heavy metals, promoting plant growth or inducing plant systemic resistance against stresses. However, investigations on the biological functions and applicability of carotenoids produced by BL had been less studied. In this study, the carotenoid pro!le produced by BL Rt4M10 was characterised during the accumulation period of culture and in response to diphenylamine (DPA ), inhibitor of carotenoid biosynthesis. The antioxidant scavenging capacities of the carotenoid extracts against oxidative reactions inside the microbial cell and in vitro were also evaluated. Eighteen di"erent carotenoids were analysed; their pro!le was modi!ed along bacterial growth. DPA decreased carotenoid production by 70%, as well as the cells’ survival in hydrogen peroxide and the antioxidant capacity, thus demonstrating the role of carotenoids from Rt4M10 in oxidative stress. Sitio de la revista: https://ifst.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijfs.13879