Role of lycopene in preventing oral diseases as a nonsurgical aid of treatment

Abstract

Without pigments, we are nothing. Life presents us with a kaleidoscope of colors. From the green grass of home to a forest's ruddy autumn hues, we are surrounded by living colors. Living things obtain their colors, with few exceptions, from natural pigments. In addition to their role in coloration, natural pigments carry out a variety of important biological functions. Of the various classes of pigments in nature, the carotenoids are among the most widespread and important ones, especially due to their varied functions. Lycopene is a red plant pigment found in tomatoes, apricots, guavas, watermelons, papayas, and pink grapefruits, with tomatoes being the largest contributor to the dietary intake of humans. Lycopene exhibits higher singlet oxygen quenching ability. Due to its strong color and nontoxicity, it is a useful food coloring agent. Moreover, it plays a multifunctional role as a nonsurgical aid in the treatment of oral diseases like leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, lichen planus, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and also prevents the destruction of periodontal tissues. This review article focuses mainly on the role of lycopene in the prevention of various oral diseases.

Lycopene Inhibit IMQ-Induced Psoriasis-Like Inflammation by Inhibiting ICAM-1 Production in Mice

“…In addition, lycopene also inhibits NF-κB activation and adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells [11]. In stomatology, lycopene plays a multifunctional role as a nonsurgical support in the treatment of oral diseases, including leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis [12]. Therefore, we know that lycopene, which is the most abundant carotenoid in tomato, may enhance human health benefits in many systems.…”

Effects of Plants on Osteogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of Periodontal Ligament Cells: A Systematic Review

“…Recently, scientists have investigated and determined that bioactive compounds are responsible for the pharmacological effects of medicinal plants, and various phytochemicals have been studied to determine the therapeutic effect of natural products (Chen et al, 2015). Studies have shown the effectiveness of medicinal plants in treating diseases such as cancer (Steele et al, 2014), Alzheimer's disease (Howes and Houghton, 2012), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , diarrhea and cholera secretions (Tradtrantip et al, 2014), stomatitis (Gavanji et al, 2014), and periodontal disease (Agrawal et al, 2014;Gupta et al, 2015).…”

Pharmacology of natural radioprotectors

“…Lycopene is a widely distributed dietary carotenoid found in red fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, pink guava, pink grape fruit, apricots, watermelon, and papaya (Gupta et al 2015 ), and has demonstrated potential protective effects against IR damage. The antioxidant activities of lycopene have been extensively evaluated in vitro and in vivo and are mediated by its ability to scavenge ROS (Srinivasan et al 2009 ).…”