The aim of this study was to produce in vitro oxidation products of lycopene, which could be possible in vivo metabolites. An oxidation of lycopene with potassium permanganate gave a range of lycopene degradation compounds resulting from the oxidative cleavage of one or two carbon-carbon double bonds. Eleven apo-lycopenals/ones and six apo-carotendials were obtained and tentatively characterized by HPLC-DAD-MS. Apo-11-lycopenal and apo-8,6'-carotendial were isolated and characterized by (1)H NMR for the first time. Lycopene was submitted to an oxidation by atmospheric oxygen catalyzed by a metalloporphyrin, a model system of the active center of cytochrome P450 enzymes. (Z)-Isomers, monoxides, and cleavage compounds of (E)-lycopene were formed. We propose a mechanism of oxidation of lycopene by this system.

Five geometrical isomers of lycopene were isolated from a photoisomerized mixture on a semi-preparative C30 column and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. 1H NMR and 2D NMR measurements were used to unambiguously assign the double bond configuration of five isomers: (5Z,9'Z)-, (9Z)-, (5Z,9Z)-, (all-E)-, and (5Z)-lycopene. This will allow other laboratories to use the results for their C30 HPLC. In addition, it is possible to investigate structure-activity relationships for these lycopene isomers which will improve the understanding of their physiological role in biological tissues.