Revealing the Power of the Natural Red Pigment Lycopene

Abstract

By-products derived from food processing are attractive source for their valuable bioactive components and color pigments. These by-products are useful for development as functional foods, nutraceuticals, food ingredients, additives, and also as cosmetic products. Lycopene is a bioactive red colored pigment naturally occurring in plants. Industrial by-products obtained from the plants are the good sources of lycopene. Interest in lycopene is increasing due to increasing evidence proving its preventive properties toward numerous diseases. In vitro, in vivo and ex vivo studies have demonstrated that lycopene-rich foods are inversely associated to diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and others. This paper also reviews the properties, absorption, transportation, and distribution of lycopene and its by-products in human body. The mechanism of action and interaction of lycopene with other bioactive compounds are also discussed, because these are the crucial features for beneficial role of lycopene. However, information on the effect of food processing on lycopene stability and availability was discussed for better understanding of its characteristics.

Development and evaluation of an emulsion containing lycopene for combating acceleration of skin aging

“…It is mainly found in tomatoes but also presented in papaya, guava and watermelon (Shami, Moreira, 2004;Sentanin, Amaya, 2007). It can also be consumed with other active compounds for optimal function in humans (Kong et al, 2010).…”

Lycopene induces retinoic acid receptor transcriptional activation in mice

“…Lycopene exist in high concentrations in foods like pasta sauce, tomato juice, ketchup, pizza sauce (Tonucci, et al, 1995). It is an acyclic carotenoid and due to its 11 conjugated double bonds it has red color (Kong, et al, 2010). It has no terminal β-ionic ring therefore lycopene has been accepted as non-pro vitamin A precursor so far.…”

Antioxidants: Potential Inducers of Gene Expression through CAMP Dependent Pathway

“…The results indicated that lycopene supplementation before and after each experimental period were inversely and significantly correlated with those of IGF-1. However, Wang et al have found low evidence for an association between baseline plasma lycopene and the risk of type-2 diabetes in middle-aged and older women after adjustment for multiple risk factors [22].…”

“…On the other hand, lycopene (1-10 μM) was able to inhibit human liver cancerous cells proliferation and preventing them from metastatic process. Lycopene has significantly inversed the proliferation of human colon carcinoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, erythroleukemia and Burkitt lymphoma cell lines [22].…”