| abstract |
The method involves contacting a source of lycopene with a supercritical fluid under conditions enabling solubilization of the lycopene in said supercritical fluid and separating the lycopene concentrate by depressurizing the supercritical fluid charged with lycopene. An oleoresin is obtained when depressurization is carried out to pressures lower than 10 MP and an extract is obtained when it is performed at higher pressures, both the oleoresin and the extract being rich in organic solvent-free lycopene. The concentrate and the compositions comprised therein have antioxidant properties and are useful for the preparation of food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products. |