Lycopene is the most efficient singlet oxygen quencher of carotenoids, with health benefits associated to its consumption. However, its low bioavailability limits its potential in food and nutraceutical applications. Also, it is mostly isolated from tomatoes, neglecting the potential of other sources, such as pink guava (Psidium guajava L.), in Colombia, this fruit is characterized by a low level of technification. The aim of this investigation was to produce sunflower oil (SFO) enriched with lycopene from Colombian pink guavas (Psidium guajava L.) (PG) by means of a green method, allowing its use in the formulation of emulsions for nutraceutical and food applications. For this purpose, PG were characterized by several methods; proximate analysis for protein, fat, carbohydrate, ash, moisture, and vitamin C content were performed according to the methods described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. While Fourier-Transformed Infrared spectroscopy, optical microcopy and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to characterize lycopene present in pink guava. Subsequently, SFO was enriched with lycopene by a green method involving a two-step process. First, a homogeneous mixture of SFO and PG (1:1) was prepared using mechanical treatments, whether Waring blender or a sequence of Waring blender followed by an Ultraturrax process, to form a homogeneous mixture of SFO and PG paste. Second, the SFO enriched with lycopene was separated by centrifugation. Lycopene was extracted using a mixture of hexane, acetone and ethanol (2:1:1) for its quantification in both PG SFO mixture an in the SFO enriched with lycopene after centrifugation by means of UV-vis spectroscopy. Results showed that using vegetable oil as a solvent, increased the obtained lycopene concentration nearly 36 %, compared to an oil-free isolation. This is because lycopene has a greater chemical affinity with oil than with the mixture of hexane, acetone and ethanol. In addition, mechanical treatments favored the breakdown of the cell wall and therefore the release of lycopene. The mechanical treatment Waring blender/Ultraturrax increased lycopene concentration around 10 % respect to only using the Waring blender. While the combination of oil with Waring blender/Ultraturrax increased around 42 % the amount lycopene extracted. Therefore, the combination of mechanical treatments and SF allows a higher valorization of PG and allowing new raw materials for the food and nutraceutical industry.

Sunflower oil enriched with lycopene from pink guava (Psidium guajava L.) through a green process with Waring blender and Ultraturrax

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.