Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and potential high-value compound for the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors. Its low solubility in water and high solubility in toxic organic solvents has led to a number of studies being carried out on using supercritical carbon dioxide to extract lycopene, with a majority of the studies focusing on extraction from tomatoes or tomato-derived preparations. Parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, extraction time, sample moisture content and sample particle size influence the yield of lycopene via the exertion of different mechanisms. The use of co-solvents and modifiers can greatly enhance the lycopene yield beyond optimization of the parameters previously mentioned, while the co-extraction method offers a new way of enhancing lycopene yields. The scope of this review covers the effects of various parameters on lycopene extraction by supercritical carbon dioxide. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.