Ultrasound-assisted extraction and optimization of lycopene-enriched extract from Solanum lycopersicum cv. Srida and its preliminary biological activity in human prostate stromal cells

Lycopene is a high-value lipophilic carotenoid widely applied as a functional ingredient in food and nutraceutical products. This study developed and optimized a process-intensified ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method to improve lycopene recovery from the tomato cultivar Srida, with emphasis on extraction efficiency and process applicability. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate the effects of sonication time, ultrasonic power, and liquid-to-solid ratio on lycopene yield. The fitted quadratic model showed good predictive performance and was used for desirability-based optimization. The optimal extraction conditions were 30 min of sonication at 300 W with a liquid-to-solid ratio of 80 mL/g, giving a lycopene yield of 9.06 ± 0.26 mg g⁻¹ dry weight. The improved yield was attributed to enhanced mass transfer and accelerated extraction kinetics induced by ultrasonic cavitation, along with efficient solvent utilization and reduced processing time. The optimized UAE process was developed at laboratory scale; its suitability for food-grade processing at larger scale remains to be established. The extracted lycopene retained its functional properties, indicating that the intensified extraction conditions did not adversely affect product quality. Overall, this work supports UAE as an efficient, food-grade, laboratory-scale approach for lycopene extraction that merits further scale-up and sustainability evaluation. The biological findings are preliminary in vitro observations and do not establish therapeutic efficacy.