Supercritical solvent selection (CO2 versus ethane) and optimization of operating conditions of the extraction of lycopene from tomato residues: Innovative analysis of extraction curves by a response surface methodology and cost of manufacturing hybrid approach

The sources, properties, extraction, biosynthesis, pharmacology, and application of lycopene

Lycopene is an important pigment with an alkene skeleton from Lycopersicon esculentum, which is also obtained from some red fruits and vegetables. Lycopene is used in the food field with rich functions and serves in the medical field with multiple clinical values because it has dual functions of both medicine and food. It was found that lycopene was mainly isolated by solvent extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, high-intensity pulsed electric field-assisted extraction, enzymatic-assisted extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction. Meanwhile, it was also obtained via 2 synthetic pathways: chemical synthesis and biosynthesis. Pharmacological studies revealed that lycopene has anti-oxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-cancer, immunity-enhancing, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, cardiovascular-protective, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and osteoporosis-inhibiting effects. The application of lycopene mainly includes food processing, animal breeding, and medical cosmetology fields. It is hoped that this review will provide some useful information and guidance for future study and exploitation of lycopene.

Valorization of Tomato Residues by Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Tomato processing leads to the production of considerable amounts of residues, mainly in the form of tomato skins, seeds and vascular tissues, which still contain bioactive molecules of interest for food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. These include carotenoids, such as lycopene and β-carotene, tocopherols and sitosterols, among others. Supercritical fluid extraction is well positioned for the valorization of tomato residues prior to disposal, because it remains an environmentally safe extraction process, especially when using carbon dioxide as the solvent. In this article, we provide an extensive literature overview of the research on the supercritical fluid extraction of tomato residues. We start by identifying the most relevant extractables present in tomatoes (e.g., lycopene) and their main bioactivities. Then, the main aspects affecting the extraction performance are covered, starting with the differences between tomato matrixes (e.g., seeds, skins and pulp) and possible pretreatments to enhance extraction (e.g., milling, drying and enzymatic digestion). Finally, the effects of extraction conditions, such as pressure, temperature, cosolvent, flow rate and time, are discussed.

HPLC Analysis and Determination of Carotenoid Pigments in Commercially Available Plant Extracts

Carotenoids are a class of natural pigments, familiar to all through the orange-red colours, which are added to many manufactured foods in the forms of natural extracts or as pure chmically syntesided compounds in order to give the desired colouring properties. Recent evidence has correlated a diet rich in certain carotenoids with an increased protection against cardiovascular diseases or even certain types of cancer. In addition, on going research examines potential protective effects of these natural compounds in food systems e.g. oils and food emulsions. In order to understand and optimise the activity of the natural extracts when used in vitro or in vivo , it is really important first to to identify those active coumpounds that account for any any dietary and functional role. This paper focuses on the HPLC analysis of certain plant extracts aiming at the quantification and identification of the present natural carotenoid pigments. Saponification prior to HPLC Analysis was found to be successful in order to remove unwanted lipids and esters and thereby facilitate the idientification of main carotenoid pigments in the natural extracts. By use of UV spectroscopy, the total carotenoid content of each natural extract was also roughly estimated based on their extinction coefficient at the λmax of the main carotenoid pigment following dilution at the appropriate solvent. The identification and quantification of carotenoids in plant extract is considerd as essential in the further developmnt and optimisation of their functional uses as additives and dietary supplements.

A Review of the Structure, Biosynthesis, Absorption of Carotenoids-Analysis and Properties of their Common Natural Extracts

Carotenoids are a class of natural pigments familiar to all through the orange-red colours of popular foods like oranges, tomatoes and carrots and the yellow colour of many flowers. They have been studied for a number of years because of their diverse roles in photobiology, photochemistry and photo medicine. Carotenoids are also added as colorants to many manufactured foods, drinks, and animal feeds, either in the forms of natural extracts (e.g annatto, paprika or marigold extracts) or as pure compounds manufactured by chemical synthesis. Carotenoids are often described as provitamins A, as this particular vitamin is a product of carotenoid metabolism. The distribution of carotenoids among the different plant groups shows no obvious pattern. b-Carotene is the most abundant in leafy vegetables, though the colour is masked by its co-existence with chlorophyll, and this carotenoid has the highest vitamin A activity. Zeaxanthin, a-carotene and antheraxanthin are also present in small amounts. In the tomato, lycopene is the major carotenoid, while fruits contain varying proportions of cryptoxanthin, lutein and antheraxanthin. In this review paper the natural occurrence of carotenoids (with focus on certain natural extracts) is described along with its structure and physicochemical properties. The biosynthesis - industrial synthesis and absorption of carotenoids is also discussed. Finally, a brief overview of analysis and properties of commonly available natural carotenoid extracts (annato, paprika, xanthophylls, lycopene) are also reported.