A PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF LYCOPENE AND EXTRACTS CONTAINING IT

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of pure lycopene or of lipophilic extracts containing it from whole fruits of Lycopersicum esculentum and similar species or parts thereof obtainable as by-products of food industry processes. The partially dehydrated fresh material is extracted with aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons or water-immiscible solvents in the presence of phospholipids as surfactant and stabilizing agents and the extracts are concentrated to an oil or fractionated to the desired lycopene concentration.