*2.7. Carotenoid Content Evaluation*

Carotenoid content, specifically β-carotene and lycopene, was determined by the spectrophotometric method by selecting different wavelengths: 470 nm (β-carotene) and 503 nm (lycopene). The amount of carotenoids was calculated according to the following equation [27]:

$$\text{Carotenoids} \left( \frac{m\text{g}}{\text{g}} \right) = \frac{A \times M\_{\text{w}} \times D\_f}{M\_{\text{a}} \times L} \tag{1}$$

where *A* is the absorbance of the extracts at the corresponding wavelength; *Mw* is molecular weight, *Df* is the sample dilution rate, *Ma* is molar absorptivity (2500 L mol−<sup>1</sup> cm<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup> and 3450 L mol−<sup>1</sup> cm<sup>−</sup>1, respectively), and *L* is the cell diameter of the spectrophotometer (1 cm).
