The invention belongs to the field of
plant purification, and provides a method for extracting
lutein from marigolds. The method includes the following steps: (1) adding dry marigold
powder and organic solvents into an extraction container for stirring and extracting; (2) filtering the mixture in the extraction container, collecting filtrate, and subjecting the filtrate to decompressed concentration to obtain a
lutein ointment; (3) adding a
potassium hydroxide ethanol solution and high-temperature alkaline lipases into the
lutein ointment, and after stirring and dissolving, transferring the lutein ointment into a reactor for
saponification; (4) standing
saponification liquid at a low temperature to precipitate out lutein crystals, performing
filtration, washing filter cakes by
distilled water, and
drying the filter cakes to obtain the high-purity lutein crystals, wherein the purity of the lutein in the final products ranges from 70% to 90%. The method has the advantages that the problems of complicated extraction process, high
solvent toxicity and low product purity of existing lutein are solved; the method has a simple process, high
operability and high product purity, and is suitable for industrial
mass production.