Lycopene

The fruits of Solanum lycopersicum

Lycopene is naturally occurring carotenoids found in tomato, tomato products, and in other red fruits and vegetables; exhibits antioxidant effects.

In Vitro: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].

In Vivo:Lycopene is the most predominant carotenoid in human plasma and has a half life of about 2-3 days[2]. Lycopene or processed tomatoes may lead to a reduction of intima-media thickness in vessel walls[3]. Lycopene exerts protective effects against ATZ-induced toxicity in rat adrenal cortex. These effects may be attributed to the antioxidative property of lycopene and its ability to activate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway[4]. Lycopene improves hepatotoxicity acting as an antioxidant, reduces GSSG and regulates tGSH and CAT levels, reduces oxidative damage[5].

References:
[1]. Assar EA, et al. Lycopene acts through inhibition of IκB kinase to suppress NF-κB signaling in human prostate and breast cancer cells. Tumour Biol. 2016 Jul;37(7):9375-85. [2]. Tapiero H, et al. The role of carotenoids in the prevention of human pathologies. Biomed Pharmacother. 2004 Mar;58(2):100-10. [3]. Müller L, et al. Lycopene and Its Antioxidant Role in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases-A Critical Review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016 Aug 17;56(11):1868-79. [4]. Abass MA, et al. Lycopene ameliorates atrazine-induced oxidative damage in adrenal cortex of male rats by activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2016 Aug;23(15):15262-74. [5]. Bandeira AC, et al. Lycopene inhibits reactive oxygen species production in SK-Hep-1 cells and attenuates acetaminophen-induced liver injury in C57BL/6 mice. Chem Biol Interact. 2017 Feb 1;263:7-17.

Lycopene inhibits cyclic strain-induced endothelin-1 expression through the suppression of reactive oxygen species generation and induction of heme oxygenase-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.[Pubmed:25932745]

Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2015 Jun;42(6):632-9.

Lycopene is the most potent active antioxidant among the major carotenoids, and its use has been associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a powerful vasopressor synthesized by endothelial cells and plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of CVD. However, the direct effects of Lycopene on vascular endothelial cells have not been fully described. This study investigated the effects of Lycopene on cyclic strain-induced ET-1 gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and identified the signal transduction pathways that are involved in this process. Cultured HUVECs were exposed to cyclic strain (20% in length, 1 Hz) in the presence or absence of Lycopene. Lycopene inhibited strain-induced ET-1 expression through the suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation through attenuation of p22(phox) mRNA expression and NAD(P)H oxidase activity. Furthermore, Lycopene inhibited strain-induced ET-1 secretion by reducing ROS-mediated extrace-llular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. Conversely, Lycopene treatment enhanced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene expression through the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, followed by induction of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation; in addition, HO-1 silencing partially inhibited the repressive effects of Lycopene on strain-induced ET-1 expression. In summary, our study showed, for the first time, that Lycopene inhibits cyclic strain-induced ET-1 gene expression through the suppression of ROS generation and induction of HO-1 in HUVECs. Therefore, this study provides new valuable insight into the molecular pathways that may contribute to the proposed beneficial effects of Lycopene on the cardiovascular system.

Lycopene in tomatoes: chemical and physical properties affected by food processing.[Pubmed:11192026]

Crit Rev Biotechnol. 2000;20(4):293-334.

Lycopene is the pigment principally responsible for the characteristic deep-red color of ripe tomato fruits and tomato products. It has attracted attention due to its biological and physicochemical properties, especially related to its effects as a natural antioxidant. Although it has no provitamin A activity, Lycopene does exhibit a physical quenching rate constant with singlet oxygen almost twice as high as that of beta-carotene. This makes its presence in the diet of considerable interest. Increasing clinical evidence supports the role of Lycopene as a micronutrient with important health benefits, because it appears to provide protection against a broad range of epithelial cancers. Tomatoes and related tomato products are the major source of Lycopene compounds, and are also considered an important source of carotenoids in the human diet. Undesirable degradation of Lycopene not only affects the sensory quality of the final products, but also the health benefit of tomato-based foods for the human body. Lycopene in fresh tomato fruits occurs essentially in the all-trans configuration. The main causes of tomato Lycopene degradation during processing are isomerization and oxidation. Isomerization converts all-trans isomers to cis-isomers due to additional energy input and results in an unstable, energy-rich station. Determination of the degree of Lycopene isomerization during processing would provide a measure of the potential health benefits of tomato-based foods. Thermal processing (bleaching, retorting, and freezing processes) generally cause some loss of Lycopene in tomato-based foods. Heat induces isomerization of the all-trans to cis forms. The cis-isomers increase with temperature and processing time. In general, dehydrated and powdered tomatoes have poor Lycopene stability unless carefully processed and promptly placed in a hermetically sealed and inert atmosphere for storage. A significant increase in the cis-isomers with a simultaneous decrease in the all-trans isomers can be observed in the dehydrated tomato samples using the different dehydration methods. Frozen foods and heat-sterilized foods exhibit excellent Lycopene stability throughout their normal temperature storage shelf life. Lycopene bioavailability (absorption) can be influenced by many factors. The bioavailability of cis-isomers in food is higher than that of all-trans isomers. Lycopene bioavailability in processed tomato products is higher than in unprocessed fresh tomatoes. The composition and structure of the food also have an impact on the bioavailability of Lycopene and may affect the release of Lycopene from the tomato tissue matrix. Food processing may improve Lycopene bioavailability by breaking down cell walls, which weakens the bonding forces between Lycopene and tissue matrix, thus making Lycopene more accessible and enhancing the cis-isomerization. More information on Lycopene bioavailability, however, is needed. The pharmacokinetic properties of Lycopene remain particularly poorly understood. Further research on the bioavalability, pharmacology, biochemistry, and physiology must be done to reveal the mechanism of Lycopene in human diet, and the in vivo metabolism of Lycopene. Consumer demand for healthy food products provides an opportunity to develop Lycopene-rich food as new functional foods, as well as food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade Lycopene as new nutraceutical products. An industrial scale, environmentally friendly Lycopene extraction and purification procedure with minimal loss of bioactivities is highly desirable for the foods, feed, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. High-quality Lycopene products that meet food safety regulations will offer potential benefits to the food industry.

Lycopene inhibits the isomerization of beta-carotene during quenching of singlet oxygen and free radicals.[Pubmed:25803572]

J Agric Food Chem. 2015 Apr 1;63(12):3279-87.

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of singlet oxygen and radical species on the isomerization of carotenoids. On the one hand, Lycopene and beta-carotene standards were incubated with 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene-1,4-endoperoxide that produced singlet oxygen in situ. (13Z)- and (15Z)-beta-carotene were preferentially generated at low concentrations of singlet oxygen, while high concentrations resulted in formation of (9Z)-beta-carotene. The addition of different concentrations of Lycopene led to the same isomerization progress of beta-carotene, but resulted in a decreased formation of (9Z)-beta-carotene and retarded degradation of (all-E)-beta-carotene. On the other hand, isomerization of beta-carotene and Lycopene was induced by ABTS-radicals, too. As expected from the literature, chemical quenching was observed especially for Lycopene, while physical quenching was preferred for beta-carotene. Mixtures of beta-carotene and Lycopene resulted in a different isomerization progress compared to the separate beta-carotene model. As long as Lycopene was present, almost no isomerization of beta-carotene was triggered; after that, strong formation of (13Z)-, (9Z)-, and (15Z)-beta-carotene was initiated. In summary, Lycopene protected beta-carotene against isomerization during reactions with singlet oxygen and radicals. These findings can explain the pattern of carotenoid isomers analyzed in fruits and vegetables, where Lycopene containing samples showed higher (all-E)/(9Z)-beta-carotene ratios, and also in in vivo samples such as human blood plasma.

Lycopene and cardiovascular diseases: an update.[Pubmed:21291369]

Curr Med Chem. 2011;18(8):1146-63.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Western societies and accounts for up to a third of all deaths worldwide. In comparison to the Northern European or other Western countries, the Mediterranean area has lower rates of mortality from cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and this is attributed, at least in part, to the so-called Mediterranean diet, which is rich in plantderived bioactive phytochemicals. Identification of the active constituents of the Mediterranean diet is therefore crucial to the formulation of appropriate dietary guidelines. Lycopene is a natural carotenoid found in tomato, an essential component of the Mediterranean diet, which, although belonging to the carotenoid family, does not have pro-vitamin A activity but many other biochemical functions as an antioxidant scavenger, hypolipaemic agent, inhibitor of pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic factors, thus potentially of benefit in CVD. In particular, the review intends to conduct a systematic analysis of the literature (epidemiological studies and interventional trials) in order to critically evaluate the association between Lycopene (or tomato products) supplementation and cardiovascular diseases and/or cardiovascular disease risk factors progression, and to prepare provision of evidence-based guidelines for patients and clinicians. Several reports have appeared in support of the role of Lycopene in the prevention of CVD, mostly based on epidemiological studies showing a dose-response relationship between Lycopene and CVD. A less clear and more complex picture emerges from the interventional trials, where several works have reported conflicting results. Although many aspects of Lycopene in vivo metabolism, functions and clinical indications remain to be clarified, supplementation of low doses of Lycopene has been already suggested as a preventive measure for contrasting and ameliorating many aspects of CVD.

Lycopene in the prevention of renal cell cancer in the TSC2 mutant Eker rat model.[Pubmed:25602702]

Arch Biochem Biophys. 2015 Apr 15;572:36-39.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most frequent upper urinary tract cancer in humans and accounts for 80-85% of malignant renal tumors. Eker rat represents a unique animal model to study RCC since these rats develop spontaneous renal tumors and leiomyoma, which may be due to tuberous sclerosis 2 (TSC2) mutation resulting in the activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. This study examines the role of a Lycopene-rich diet in the development of RCC in the TSC2 mutant Eker rat model. Ten-week old female Eker rats (n=90) were assigned in equal numbers to receive 0, 100 or 200mg/kg of Lycopene as part of their daily diet. After 18 months the rats were sacrificed and the kidneys were removed. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against mTOR, phospho-S6 and EGFR were performed, as well as hematoxylin-eosin staining for histologic examination of the tumors. Tumors were counted and measured in individual kidneys. Presence of tumor decreased from 94% in control animals to 65% in the experimental group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P<0.12). However, mean numbers of renal carcinomas were statistically significantly decreased in the Lycopene-treated rats (P<0.008) when compared to untreated controls. In the Lycopene group, tumor numbers decreased (P<0.002) and the numbers tended to decrease linearly (P<0.003) as supplemental Lycopene increased from 0 to 200. Control rats fed only basal diet had a greater length of tumors (23.98 mm) than rats fed Lycopene supplement groups (12.90 mm and 11.07 mm) (P<0.05). Moreover tumor length decreased (P<0.02) and tumor length tended to decrease linearly (P<0.03) as supplemental Lycopene increased from 0 to 200mg/kg. All tumors showed strong staining with antibodies against mTOR, phospho-S6 and EGFR. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with Lycopene attenuates the development of renal cell cancers in the predisposed TSC2 mutant Eker rat model. These results suggest that Lycopene may play a role in the prevention of RCC.

Lycopene-rich tomato oleoresin modulates plasma adiponectin concentration and mRNA levels of adiponectin, SIRT1, and FoxO1 in adipose tissue of obese rats.[Pubmed:25632967]

Hum Exp Toxicol. 2015 Jun;34(6):612-9.

AIM: To investigate whether Lycopene can modulate adiponectin levels and SIRT1 and FoxO1 gene expression in the adipose tissue of diet-induced obese rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were first fed with hypercaloric diet (HD, n = 12) for 6 weeks, and afterward, these rats were randomly assigned to receive HD (n = 6) or HD with Lycopene-rich tomato oleoresin (equivalent to Lycopene 10 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day, HD + L, n = 6) by gavage for additional 6 weeks. Plasma Lycopene and adiponectin levels were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and immunoassay, respectively. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of adiponectin, Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), Forkhead box O 1 (FoxO1), fatty acid translocase/cluster of differentiation 36 (FAT/CD36), and PPARgamma in adipose tissues were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Lycopene was detected in the plasma of rats in HD + L group but not in the HD group. Although both BW and adiposity were not different between the two groups, there was a significant increase in both plasma concentration and mRNA expression of adiponectin in the adipose tissue of the HD + L group. In addition, the Lycopene supplementation upregulated mRNA expressions of SIRT1, FoxO1, and FAT/CD36 but downregulated PPARgamma in adipose tissue of obese rats. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that Lycopene, in the concentration used, is not toxic and also its health benefits in adipose tissue may play a role against obesity-related complications.

Effect of high power low frequency ultrasound processing on the stability of lycopene.[Pubmed:25921608]

Ultrason Sonochem. 2015 Nov;27:586-591.

The stability of Lycopene was evaluated after application of high power low frequency ultrasound. The study was carried out on a solution containing pure Lycopene to evaluate the direct effect of ultrasound on Lycopene and on tomato puree to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of ultrasound application within a food matrix. Power densities ranging from 55 to 5000 W/L and temperatures ranging from 23 degrees C (ambient) to 60 degrees C were evaluated. The experiments on pure Lycopene showed that the application of ultrasound did not have any direct effect over Lycopene. However, the retention of Lycopene in tomato puree has decreased indicating an indirect effect on Lycopene stability caused by high concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the activation of peroxidase enzymes leading to the reduction of ascorbic acid and its regenerative action towards Lycopene.

Lycopene is naturally occurring carotenoids found in tomato, tomato products, and in other red fruits and vegetables; exhibits antioxidant effects.

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