UV- VIS, GC- MS AND FT-IR ANALYSIS AND DETERMINATION OF IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF LYCOPENE FROM CITRULLUS LANATUS

Lycopene makes up the majority of carotenoids in watermelon. Carotenoids are thought to be responsible for the beneficial properties of fruits and vegetables in preventing human diseases including cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other chronic diseases. They are important dietary sources of vitamin A. Lycopene extraction from the fruit juice was done individually by using various organic solvents such as hexane, acetone and ethanol. The chemical compound was identified by UV Vis, GC- MS and FT-IR, totally nine chemical compounds were identified by GC-MS and different peaks were observed by FTIR. The major chemical constituents were identified as N,N’- Ethylenebis [2-[2- hydroxyphenylglycine, Cyclopropanebutanoic acid, n- Hexadecanoic acid, 10-Octadecenoic acid, oleic acid, Heptadecanoic acid, Hexadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid. The chemical compounds found in groups were methyl branched fatty acid, ethylester based fatty acid, glycine based amino acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid. The results showed that lycopene content of watermelon juice was approximately 13mg/Kg. Antioxidant testing assays  2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, superoxide anion radical scavenging assay and reducing capacity assessment. The red fleshed watermelon used for lycopene extraction  had higher lycopene content and also had higher primary antioxidant activity free radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and reducing power activity. Thus, it was evaluated that the watermelon fresh juice contain effective bioactive compound responsible for antioxidant activity.