EXTRACTION OF BETA-CAROTENE ENRICHED EXTRACT FROM WATER HYACINTH EICHHORNIA CRASSIPES

摘要

The present invention provides a convenient and economical for process extraction and separation of ß-carotene from water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae) comprising collecting mature plant of Eichhornia crassipes (5-7 months old, flowering), shade drying, grinding, soaking the powdered plant material in organic solvent to obtain the extract containing carotenoids along with other secondary metabolites which includes some of the value addition components. Enrichment of ß-carotene is carried out by dissolving the extract in acetone followed by filtration. ß-Carotene from the filtrate is further purified by column chromatography to yield a ß-carotene enriched extract. Quantitative estimation of ß-carotene from it was carried out by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).