| abstract |
Process for the production of a lycopene concentrate free of organic solvents, concentrate obtained and composition comprising said concentrate. The process comprises contacting a source of lycopene with a supercritical fluid under conditions that allow the solubilization of lycopene in said supercritical fluid, and separating the lycopene concentrate by depressurizing the supercritical fluid loaded with lycopene. When depressurization is performed up to pressures below 10 MPa, an oleoresin is obtained and when it is carried out at higher pressures, an extract is obtained, both rich in lycopene free of organic solvents. The concentrate and the compositions comprising it have antioxidant properties and are useful for making food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products. |