Green Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Tomato Pomace Using Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters Derived from Krabok Seed Oil

What if the secret to a greener, healthier extraction of tomato's powerful antioxidants lies in a tropical seed oil? This study turns food waste into a treasure trove using a non-toxic solvent.

Tomato pomace, the leftover from food processing, is packed with carotenoids like lycopene and β-carotene—antioxidants that fight cell damage. But extracting them usually requires toxic solvents. Now, scientists have turned to an unlikely hero: fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) derived from Krabok seed oil.

In this study, they compared FAEE with hexane, a common petroleum-based solvent, using two extraction methods: conventional maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The results were striking. UAE proved more efficient than maceration, and hexane extracted more lycopene (67.97–75.33 mg/100 g dry weight) and β-carotene (10.51–11.50 mg/100 g) due to its lower viscosity. FAEE yielded slightly less, but the extracts boasted superior antioxidant activity, with DPPH inhibition reaching up to 92.05%.

Even more impressive, FAEE-extracted carotenoids were far more stable. After 56 days, they retained up to 90% lycopene and 85% β-carotene, while hexane-extracted compounds degraded rapidly. This suggests FAEE not only avoids toxicity but also protects the precious molecules.

This eco-friendly solvent could transform how we recover bioactive compounds from food waste, offering a sustainable path for the food and cosmetic industries. The future of extraction might just be green—and it starts with a seed.

Key Points

• FAEE from Krabok seed oil is a non-toxic extraction solvent.
• FAEE extracts show up to 92.05% DPPH inhibition.
• FAEE retains 90% lycopene, 85% β-carotene after 56 days.