Study on the production and stability of lutein isolated from Gac peel by flash extraction

Gac peel constitute the major proportion of the whole fruit by weight and also contain a significant content of the lutein. However, thousands of tons of Gac peel are estimated to be discarded annually. To develop an efficient and cost-effective method for lutein production from Gac peel by using flash extraction, effects of Gac lutein extraction efficiency (EE) were investigated. When 1 g Gac peel was shaken in 20 mL 90 % ethanol at 55 °C with 2 000 rpm for 40 s, the final EE of lutein reached 98.41 %. In addition, the stability of Gac lutein were studied and the results showed that Gac lutein has good thermal stability, wide pH solution adaptability and strong antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the flash extraction is a promising approach which will enhance utilization of Gac fruit and reduce waste disposal from Gac processing for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.