Modern Chemistry & Applications

Lycopene a panacea for sustainable man power for agricultural production in Nigeria: Determination of lycopene from water melon (Citrullus lanatus)

9^th Global Chemistry Congress

July 23-24, 2018 | Lisbon, Portugal

S I Okonkwo

Anambra State University, Nigeria

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Mod Chem Appl

Abstract:

Man power is one of the most important factors that can enhance and sustain agricultural production in Nigeria. The age bracket of 40 years and above is the group that is engaged in farming in Nigeria. These age groups are prone to diseases such as high blood pressure, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and this is why they die prematurely since their life expectancy has declined. Lycopene found in water melon which can be used for its medicinal value was extracted, analysed and quantified. Water melon was peeled and the reddish flesh was ground and oven-dried to make a paste. Lycopene was extracted using ethyl acetate. The crude product was obtained by simple distillation. The lycopene crystals were obtain through crystallization of crude product by adding a mixture of benzene and boiling methanol. Further purification was done using thin-layer chromatography using silica gel as adsorbent, followed by recrystallization using a mixture of benzene and boiling methanol. Identification was done using UV spectroscopy and the primary chemical test for lycopene using sulphuric acid which changes the colour to indigo blue. Also, few crystals were dissolved in acetone, after successive addition of 5% solution of sodium nitrate and 1M sulphuric acid, the colour disappears. The quantity of extracted lycopene was weighed and found to be 1.62 mg per 50 g water melon paste. Lycopene can be produced in commercial quantity which can be consumed by this age group as supplement. This will aid to reduce high death rate and enhance their life span which is one of the factors that can increase agricultural productivity.

Biography :

E-mail: sylocs70@yahoo.com