Extraction of lycopene from different species of coloured tomato (solanum lycopersicum) available in market

Lycopene, a family of carotenoid is an antioxidant which helped to prevent and cure from prostate cancer and breast cancer. Tomato has the most lycopene compare to other colored fruit such as pink guava, watermelon and red grapefruit. Solvent extraction method was used to determine the lycopene contain in the tomato samples. Samples were soaked in the ethanol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and hexane. Centrifugation in condition of 10000rpm, 10 minutes and 4°C is to separate the hexane layer. Rotary evaporator is used so that the hexane layer is free from solvent, easier for HPLC analysis. Storage of the sample is very important in order to prevent the lycopene from degrade by exposure of light and temperature. Retention time for lycopene is at range 9 to 10 minute. Area of the peak determined the percentage of lycopene in the samples. Samples peel 2 gives the highest percentage of lycopene at retention time at 9.656 minutes with height of 135577 uV respectively. Tomato peel will give higher lycopene percentage only with the help of degrading enzyme. Solarium lycopersicum 'Roma' has the higher yield of lycopene.