A Review on Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) of Lycopene from Tomato and Tomato Products

Lycopene, an acyclic, open chain, unsaturated carotenoid having 13 double bonds, of which 11 are conjugated, arranged in a linear array, is considered to be a pigment of potential commercial importance in the emerging market for nutraceutical products because of its function as a health-promoting ingredient. Lycopene has received a great deal of attention as an effective antioxidant that can play an important role in reducing the risk of several chronic diseases. In this study, we reviewed extraction parameters of lycopene from tomato and tomato products by supercritical fluids and pre-extraction procedures. For extraction, temperature range as 50-110°C, extraction time range as 0.5-8.0 hours, extraction pressure range as 300-400 bar and using co-solvent, especially ethanol, are common parameters.