Lycopene in hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent with natural catalysts: A promising strategy to simultaneously promote lycopene Z-isomerization and extraction.

Abstract

Lycopene Z-isomerization and degradation in a series of hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvents (HNDES) was firstly studied. The highest lycopene retention (about 84.6%) was found in HNDES composed of thymol and menthol (TM), and fatty acid-basedHNDES promoted lycopene Z-isomerization (about 70% for total Z-isomers) and degradation. The addition of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), diallyl disulfide (DADS) and capric acid into TM promoted Z-isomerization of lycopene (80% for total Z-isomers), especially 5Z-isomer (>30%), while lycopene remaining rate in TM/-capric acid was below 20%. During lycopene extraction from tomato power and watermelon juice by TM, the ratios of Z-isomer significantly (p<0.05) increased especially with AITC and DADS (up to about 80%), and extraction yields increased even>100% with capric acid. Lycopene in TM/-capric acid extracts showed low degradation with Z-isomers increasing during storage. TM with capric acid could simultaneously promote lycopene Z-isomerization and extraction.