A rapid hexane-free method for analyzing lycopene content in watermelon

Lycopene is a red carotenoid with antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. Current methods to assay lycopene content are time-consuming and require organic solvents. This report discusses a rapid and reliable light-absorption method to assay watermelon lycopene content that uses no organic solvents. Light absorption of 152,watermelon flesh purees was measured with a xenon flash colorimeter/spectrophotometer that can measure actual light absorption from opaque samples; results were compared with a hexane extraction method. The puree absorbance method gave a precise linear relationship (R-2 = 0.98) to lycopene content and was independent of lycopene concentrations or watermelon variety within the lycopene concentration measured (24 mg/g to 88 mg/g fresh weight).