Here's why:

* Structure: Xanthophylls are carotenoids, which are long chains of hydrocarbons with conjugated double bonds. They have a very limited number of polar functional groups (like hydroxyl groups -OH).

* Solubility: Xanthophylls are soluble in non-polar solvents like hexane and ether, but not in water. This indicates their non-polar nature.

* Hydrophobic nature: The long hydrocarbon chains in xanthophylls make them hydrophobic (water-repelling), further confirming their non-polarity.

While xanthophylls have some polar functional groups, their overall structure and properties are dominated by the long hydrocarbon chains, making them primarily non-polar molecules.