Lycopene Lycopene is a naturally occurring red pigment, which belongs to the family of carotenoids. It is found in tomatoes, watermelon and papaya. Lycopene has antioxidant property
Functions
- It has singlet oxygen quenching ability and so having antioxidant activity.
- Lycopene is natural coloring substance
- Lycopene plays an important role in photosynthesis. As chloroplasts are also related to photosynthesis, many of the cell materials are co-related to it. Self-esterification of carotenoids like lycopene protects these cell materials from photo oxidative damage.
- Lycopene is a vitamin A precursor. The general structure of lycopene is an aliphatic hydrocarbon with 11 conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds. Being acyclic, Lycopene possesses symmetrical planarity. When this structure under goes certain biochemical reactions, it forms provitamin A, and then it is converted to vitamins.
- It is also helpful in certain critical in vivo biological processes like growth control, cell-to-cell communication, and modulating hormones.
- it is useful for chemo-preventive treatment of cancer.
Applications
Nutritional Supplementation
Lycopene as a supplement helps to reduce the risk of prostate (male reproductive organ) and breast cancer. It also lowers the risk of diabetes, heart problems, and improves immunity