EFFECTS OF ENZYMATIC TREATMENTS ON CAROTENOID EXTRACTION FROM MARIGOLD FLOWERS (TAGETES ERECTA)

Three techniques were used to quantitate total carotenoids extracted f rom fresh marigold flowers previously treated with a commercial enzyme ; the shortest technique, based on carotenoid extraction with hexane, was selected to evaluate the efficiency of five commercial enzymes in the carotenoid extraction process. Fresh marigold treated with enzymes showed a higher susceptibility to pigment extraction than untreated s amples, and the highest carotenoid yields were obtained using the enzy me ECONASE-CEP. This enzyme at 0.1% w/w increased extraction from 1.7 to 7.4 g/kg of marigold flower in dry weight; such treatments may enha nce carotenoid extraction at the industrial level as well. Copyright ( C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.