| Bioactivity | Lycopene is naturally occurring carotenoids found in tomato, tomato products, and in other red fruits and vegetables; exhibits antioxidant effects. |
| Invitro | Sufficient uptake of lycopene from the diet is necessary to benefit from its health promoting effects, since humans are unable to synthesise lycopene de novo. Lycopene significantly inhibits prostate and breast cancer cell growth at physiologically relevant concentrations of 1.25 μM and also causes a 30-40 % reduction in inhibitor of kappa B phosphorylation in the cells[1]. Increased intake of lycopene, a major carotenoid in tomatoes, consumed as the all-trans-isomer attenuates alcohol induced apoptosis in 2E1 cells and reduces risk of prostate, lung and digestive cancers. Lycopene plays a role in the protection against photooxidative processes by acting as singlet molecular oxygen and peroxyl radicals scavengers and can interact synergistically with other antioxidants[2]. Lycopene as a carotenoid can react with types of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in three different mechanisms: I) by electron-transfer, II) by hydrogen atom transfer or III) by adduct formation. Lycopene is able to deactivate singlet oxygen mainly by physical quenching[3]. Lycopene decreases ROS production in SK-Hep-1 cells through inhibition of NADPH oxidase, brought about in the PKC pathway[5]. |
| Name | Lycopene |
| CAS | 502-65-8 |
| Formula | C40H56 |
| Molar Mass | 536.87 |
| Transport | Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere. |
| Storage | -80°C, protect from light, stored under nitrogen |