Optimization of Conventional and Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Lycopene Rich Extract from Heiyai (Elaeagnus latifolia L.)

Heiyai (Elaeagnus latifolia L.) is an underutilized semi-wild berry which is found in Manipur during the mid of March and April. In the present study, Heiyai fruit was explored for the extraction of lycopene using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO₂ and the conventional solvent extraction (CSE) method. An experimental design based on response surface methodology was used for SFE with independent variables (pressure, temperature, and time) and CSE (temperature, time, and solid-to-liquid ratio) to investigate the effect on the extraction yield (%) and lycopene content (mg/100 g) from Heiyai. An empirical model was developed for correlating independent and response variable with a good fit which was obtained. The optimum conditions for SFE were pressure (20 MPa), extraction time (90 min), and temperature (40 °C) resulting into extraction yield of 3.35% and 69.78 mg/100 g of lycopene content. The optimum conditions for CSE were temperature (30 °C), time (15 min), and solid-to-liquid ratio (70 g/mL) resulting into extraction yield of 1.318% and lycopene content of 29.983 mg/100 g. Furthermore, lycopene was isolated and purified using the column chromatography method, and its chemical structure was studied using FT-IR and a visible spectrophotometer.