Carotenoid pigments were enzymically extracted from orange peel, sweet potato and carrot using different concentrations of cellulase and pectinase combinations. The effects of enzyme concentrations and extraction time on the colour yield of carotenoid pigments were studied. It was observed that the same colour yield can be reached at lower concentrations of enzymes by extending the extraction time, thus resulting in lower costs of enzymes. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.