Hydrolysis of carotenoid esters from Tagetes erecta by the action of lipases from Yarrowia lipolytica

The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of enzymatic hydrolysis of carotenoid esters from Tagetes erecta using lipases from the yeast of Yarrowia lipolytica, with the aim of obtaining free lutein. The optimal concentrations of seven nutrients, considering the production of lipases relative to biomass (Yp/x) as the response variable, were determined in flask fermentations. In addition, we studied the effect on hydrolysis of growing Y. lipolytica in the presence of the oleoresin of the marigold flower in flask and stirred tank. Furthermore, hydrolysis of the oleoresin using the lipases from this microorganism was compared with the hydrolysis using lipases from Rhizopus oryzae. Cultured in the presence of marigold oleoresin, Y. lipolytica showed an increase in free carotenoids of 12.41% in flask and 8.8% in stirred tank, representing a fourfold and a threefold increase compared to the initial value in the fermentation, respectively. When lipases from the supernatant from both microorganisms were used for only 14 h hydrolysis experiments, a slight increase was achieved compared to a blank. We concluded that carotenoid esters of the oleoresin could not be completely hydrolyzed in 14 h by these lipases, but that growing Y. lipolytica in the presence of marigold oleoresin gives until fourfold production of free carotenoids in 72 h fermentations.