Enhanced lycopene recovery from tomato processing waste by enzymatic degradation of plant tissue components

Eight commercial enzyme preparations with pectinolytic, cellulolytic, hemicellulolytic and proteolytic activities were tested for their ability to enhance lycopene extraction from tomato peels. Screening experiments were performed at 40 °C by subjecting the peels to a 1-h enzyme incubation followed by 1-h hexane extraction. The resulting yields were between 51 and 195.9 mg of lycopene per 100 g of dry tomato peels, while the value obtained for the untreated peels was 23.7 mg /100 g. Synergistic and antagonist effects were observed when different enzyme products were used in 50:50 (v/v) combination. The preparations richest in cellulase and pectinase were the most efficient, with an up to 10-fold increase in extraction yield. A statistical analysis of factors affecting lycopene extraction revealed that enzyme dosage was the most influential, followed by temperature and enzyme incubation time. A strong interaction was also found between the latter two variables.