Abstract:

In the extraction of lycopene from tomato, petroleum ether containing 2% (V/V) dichloromethane was used as extraction solvent. Lycopene extraction was investigated with respect to the effects of respective and synergic hydrolysis of tomato by cellulase and pectinase. The results indicated that a higher extraction yield of lycopene was obtained when pectinase, instead of cellulase was used for hydrolyzing tomato. More lycopene was extracted from tomato using both of the enzymes than using pectinase alone. The optimal parameters for extracting lycopene using both of the enzymes were determined as follows: pectinase/cellulase ratio 2:1, their total dosage 0.6 g/100 g, and pH 5.0 for 5 h hydrolysis at 35 ℃, followed by extraction for 20 min using the above extraction solvent and centrifugation at 4000 r/min for 10 min.

Key words: lycopene, cellulase, pectinase