APPLICATION OF SURFACE RESPONSE METHODOLOGY FOR AN ENZYME-ASSISTED EXTRACTION OF CAROTENOIDS.

The primary sources of carotenoids are plants and microorganisms (yeast, bacteria), though they can be synthesized chemically. Due to their potent antioxidant properties, carotenoids exert a significant role at the molecular level in the suppression of various cancers and other oncological diseases. The present research aimed to optimize the enzyme-assisted extraction of carotenoids from carrot by response surface methodology. The Box-Behnken design was used for the optimization of extraction conditions from fresh carrot. The response (yield) was quantified using a spectrophotometric method. The highest yield from the experimental result was 393.4 µg/mL followed by 335.4 µg/mL whereas 198.0 µg/mL represents the least. The predicted highest yield (407.4 µg/mL) was more than the experimental yield (393.4 µg/mL). The model was significant (p=0.0261). However, the lack of fit for the ANOVA was not significant (p=0.3534). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]