Bulk Lycopene is from tomatoes, watermelon, carrots, red grapefruit and other plants. Guanjie Biotech uses tomatoes to extract lycopene. Lycopene is a carotenoid with high antioxidant properties. Due to the presence of conjugated double-bond chains in its molecular structure. It exhibits low water solubility and high-fat solubility. Specifically, lycopene has the following solubility characteristics.
Characteristics
• Lipid solubility
The chemical structure of lycopene contains a conjugated double-bond system, which is strongly lipophilic. Its solubility in water is very low, typically 0.001 to 0.01 mg/mL, making it less effective when used directly in water-based products. In contrast, lycopene has high solubility in fats and oils, such as good solubility in vegetable oils such as olive oil and linseed oil. This characteristic makes lycopene commonly used with lipids in food and nutraceutical products to improve its bioavailability.
• Poor water solubility
Lycopene itself is almost insoluble in water, which is related to the hydrophobic structure of its molecules. However, its dispersion and solubility in water can be improved by technical modifications. Such as micro-emulsification, and nano- or co-crystal formation. Thus, it broadens application in water-based products.
• Factors affecting solubility
The solubility of lycopene is not only affected by its chemical structure but also closely related to the nature of the solvent (e.g., polarity, molecular size, temperature, etc.) and the concentration of the solvent. Bulk Lycopene is more soluble in greasy solvents, especially at high temperatures. In addition, lycopene may form mixtures with other fat-soluble substances, increasing its solubility.
Effect of lycopene solubility on bioavailability
• Effect of fat solubility on absorption
Since lycopene is fat-soluble, its absorption is usually dependent on the presence of fat. The absorption of fat-soluble substances in the body usually requires the involvement of fat, and lycopene needs to be absorbed with fat as it passes through the intestinal tract, which means that lycopene is absorbed much more efficiently if the food contains fat. Studies have shown that the bioavailability of lycopene is much higher when tomatoes or lycopene supplements are consumed with a fat-containing meal than on an empty stomach.
• Techniques to increase bioavailability
In order to increase the bioavailability of lycopene, scientists have developed various technologies such as microencapsulation, emulsification, and nanoconjugation. These technologies make lycopene more easily absorbed by the body by altering its solubility. For example, by encapsulating lycopene in tiny lipid particles or combining it with an emulsifier to form a stable emulsion, its dispersion in water can be significantly improved, thereby increasing its bioavailability.
Methods to improve lycopene solubility
Improving lycopene solubility is a complex problem involving chemistry, physics, and processing technology. Lycopene has poor solubility and is usually virtually insoluble in water, which limits its use in food, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. The research and practice of improving the solubility of lycopene has become a hot research topic in related fields. The following will specify several effective methods to improve the solubility of lycopene.
1. Selection of solvents and dissolution techniques
• Oil solubility method
As a fat-soluble substance, bulk lycopene has better solubility in oils and fats. Therefore, using vegetable oil to dissolve lycopene is a simple and effective way. By mixing lycopene with fats and oils and stirring to dissolve under heating conditions (usually at 60~80°C), a stable lycopene oil solution can be obtained. This oil solution can be used in addition to foods, beverages, and cosmetics.
• Microemulsion Technology
The microemulsion is a liquid micelle system consisting of water, oil, and surfactant. Through microemulsification technology, oil-soluble substances such as lycopene can be effectively dispersed in the aqueous phase to form a stable emulsion system. The process of microemulsification can use different surfactants. Such as polyoxyethylene (POE) type, lecithin, and so on. By adjusting the corresponding water-oil ratio and surfactant concentration, smaller droplets are formed, thus improving the solubility of lycopene in water.
• Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology can greatly improve the solubility and bioavailability of lycopene by degrading its particles to the nanometer level. Nanoparticles of lycopene can be prepared by ultrasound, ball milling method, or solvent evaporation to obtain particles with smaller particle sizes and larger specific surface areas. The nanosized lycopene has higher solubility, greater stability, and higher bioavailability. Especially, it showed excellent results in oral formulations.
• Supercritical Fluid Extraction
Supercritical fluid extraction is a technique that utilizes the high solubility characteristics of fluids such as SC-CO2 for substance extraction. By changing the temperature and pressure conditions, supercritical fluids can effectively increase the solubility of lycopene. This method not only operates at lower temperatures and reduces the degradation of heat-sensitive components, but also avoids the use of organic solvents and is highly environmentally friendly.
2. Physicochemical treatment
• Temperature treatment
Temperature is an important factor affecting the solubility of lycopene. Heating treatment, especially in a certain temperature range (such as 60-80 ℃), can promote the movement of lycopene molecules, and increase its solubility in oil or solvent. Especially when co-heated with solvents (e.g. organic solvents or vegetable oils), the solubility of lycopene can be significantly improved.
• pH regulation
The pH value is the solubility of lycopene. Lycopene is more soluble in an acidic environment than in a neutral or alkaline environment. Adjusting the pH within a certain range can improve the solubility of lycopene. Lycopene can be made more soluble in solvents or fats by acidifying the solution (e.g. by adding citric or acetic acid).
• Ultrasonic treatment
Ultrasonication creates tiny bubbles through high-frequency vibrations, which in turn facilitates the interaction between the solvent and the lycopene molecules. This method can significantly increase the dissolution rate and accelerate the lycopene dissolution process. Especially in large-scale production, ultrasonic treatment is an efficient dissolution method.
• Solvent-assisted liquid extraction
The use of co-solvents (e.g., ethanol, acetone, etc.) in conjunction with dissolution solvents can effectively increase the solubility of lycopene. Especially in the extraction of lycopene from natural plants, the solvent extraction method combined with appropriate solvent ratios can enhance the extraction efficiency and lycopene solubility.
The solubility of bulk lycopene is limited by its fat-soluble chemical structure. However, its solubility and bioavailability can be significantly improved by modern techniques. Guanjie Biotech is one of the professional China lycopene powder suppliers, specializing in extracting lycopene from tomatoes. We provide a range of products, including 5% and 10% bulk Lycopene Powder, 6% and 10% Lycopene Oil Suspension, 5% and 10% Lycopene Microcapsule Powder, and 80% Lycopene Crystals. Our lycopene products are available through synthesis, fermentation processes, and natural extraction, ensuring high purity and quality. Each batch undergoes HPLC testing for reliability. If you want to add bulk lycopene to your product, feel free to contact us at info@gybiotech.com.
