Rapid Hexane-free Method for Analyzing Lycopene Content in Watermelon

Lycopene is a red carotenoid with antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. Current methods to assay lycopene content are time-consuming and require organic solvents. This report discusses a rapid and reliable light-absorption method to assay watermelon lycopene content that uses no orga...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of food science Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 328 - 332
Main Authors:	Davis, A.R, Fish, W.W, Perkins-Veazie, P
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2003 Institute of Food Technologists Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects:	absorbance absorption antioxidant activity Antioxidants Biological and medical sciences carotenoid Comparative analysis Food industries Food science Fruit and vegetable industries Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology General aspects hexane Light lycopene lycopene assay lycopene quantitation Methods of analysis, processing and quality control, regulation, standards Nutrition solvents watermelon watermelons xenon Assay Fruit Watermelon Quality control Control method Light absorption Antioxidant Carotenoid Lycopene Quantitative analysis
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Lycopene is a red carotenoid with antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. Current methods to assay lycopene content are time-consuming and require organic solvents. This report discusses a rapid and reliable light-absorption method to assay watermelon lycopene content that uses no organic solvents. Light absorption of 152 watermelon flesh purees was measured with a xenon flash colorimeter/spectrophotometer that can measure actual light absorption from opaque samples; results were compared with a hexane extraction method. The puree absorbance method gave a precise linear relationship (R(2)= 0.98) to lycopene content and was independent of lycopene concentrations or watermelon variety within the lycopene concentration measured (24 mg/g to 88 mg/g fresh weight).
Bibliography:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.2003.tb14160.x istex:F1BCFB7EC2CAE8F6594182A865326F04178F76D3 ArticleID:JFDS328 ark:/67375/WNG-885H0GRR-Q We would like to thank Warren Roberts and Sam Pair for supplying watermelon cultivars, and Anthony Dillard, Rick Houser, Karie Holstine, Wyatt O'Hern, and Bill Anderson for providing valuable technical support. We also acknowledge Mr. Pat Bischof of Hunter Associates Laboratory, Inc., for the loan of a Hunter UltraScan XE. Disclaimer: Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. All programs and services of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap. The article cited was prepared by a USDA employee as part of his/her official duties. Copyright protection under U.S. copyright law is not available for such works. Accordingly, there is no copyright to transfer. The fact that the private publication in which the article appears is itself copyrighted does not affect the material of the U.S. Government, which can be freely reproduced by the public.
ISSN:	0022-1147 1750-3841
DOI:	10.1111/j.1365-2621.2003.tb14160.x