Lycopene Enhances Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Immunity Function in N-Methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine–Induced Gastric Cancer Rats

Abstract

To investigate anticancer effect of lycopene, we examined the effects of lycopene on the oxidative injury and immunity activities of N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric cancer rats. The animals were divided into five groups. Group I served as the normal control and was given corn oil orally for 20 weeks. Group II were induced with MNNG 200 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage at days 0 and 14, and saturated NaCl (1 mL per rats) was given once every three days for four weeks until the end of the experimental period. Group III, IV and V were posttreated with lycopene (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight, dissolved in corn oil) from the sixth week of MNNG (as in group II) induction up to the end of the experimental period. In the presence of MNNG, MDA and immunity levels were significantly increased, whereas enzymatic (SOD, CAT, and GPx) antioxidant activities were decreased in the treated rats compared with normal control rats. Administration of lycopene to gastric carcinoma-induced rats largely up-regulated the redox status and immunity activities to decrease the risk of cancer compared to group II. We conclude that up-regulation of antioxidants and immunity by lycopene treatment might be responsible for the anticancer effect in gastric carcinoma.

The effect of in vitro enzyme digestion on antioxidant and anticholinesterase potential of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) fruit and two commercially processed tomato pastes

“…Both the ethanolic extracts and in vitro digested samples of tomato (fruit and paste) showed potential of inhibiting lipid oxidation. The result correlate with the work of Luo and Wu (2011), where it was reported that lycopene treatment in rats, with induced gastric cancer significantly ameliorated an increased MDA level at the end of the experiment. Since flavonoid represent the major component of the total phenolic content in tomato (Toor & Savage, 2005), hence, the flavonoids, lycopene and other phenolic compounds present in tomato fruit and paste may be responsible for their ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation.…”

Lycopene affects the immune responses of finishing pigs

“…This stimulation of lycopene on IgG production has been observed in other studies, like that carried out by Luo and Wu (2011), showing that lycopene can increase blood levels of IgA, IgG and IgM, improving the immunity of rats with cancer. Similarly, Neyestani et al (2007) observed that dietary supplementation of lycopene stimulates the formation of specific antibodies, mainly IgG isotype, reporting that lycopene is not only a common immune enhancer, because it provides an specific immune stimulation.…”

The emerging anti-neoplastic effects of lycopene: Beyond its role in prostate carcinomas

“…Suppression of COX-2 is another lycopene mediated effect. Similarly, in gastric carcinomas, lycopene up-regulates anti-oxidants and thereby exerts anti-neoplastic effects [4]. Lycopene also acts on hepatic tissue and mitigates the risk of developing hepato-cellular carcinoma, especially in the presence of background Hepatitis C infection [5].…”