Lycopene

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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Synonym(s)

CAS No 502-65-8; Leukopin; Lycopene; Lycopene (engl.)

Definition
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Lycopene, a tetraterpene and secondary plant substance. Lycopene is an acyclic isomer of beta-carotene.

Lycopene is a yellow-red dye which is obtained as a natural dye from tomatoes (tomato = Solanum lycopersicum, from which the name lycopene is derived) and other red fruits and vegetables such as carrots, rose hips, watermelons, papayas, etc.

Lycopene is produced by numerous plants and microorganisms but not by humans and animals. It has the molecular formula: C40H56.

Effects
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A strong antioxidative effect can be experimentally proven. Lycopene has a UV-protective (see below) and apoptosis-promoting effect. Its role as a carcinoma-protective prostate agent appears rather doubtful.

Field of application/use
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Natural food additive (E 160 d)

Note(s)
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The colour of lycopene is due to the numerous conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds: each double bond reduces the energy of the light emitted, which is needed for the electrons to move to a higher energy state. This leads to visible light being absorbed at increasingly longer wavelengths. Thus, the short wavelength spectrum of visible light is absorbed more strongly than the long wavelength (red) part of the spectrum. As a result, lycopene appears red. With conc. sulfuric acid and trichloroacetic acid, the color of lycopene changes from red to blue (double bonds are bound).

Literature
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  1. Ascenso A et al (2016) The Effect of Lycopene Preexposure on UV-B-Irradiated Human Keratinocytes. Oxide Med Cell Longev doi: 10.1155/2016/8214631
  2. Ascenso A et al (2014) Chemoprevention of photocarcinogenesis by lycopene. Exp Dermatol 23:874-878.
  3. Bowen P et al (2002) Tomato sauce supplementation and prostate cancer: lycopene accumulation and modulation of biomarkers of carcinogenesis. Experimental Biology and Medicine 227: 886-893
  4. Lopes LB et al (2010) Topical delivery of lycopene using microemulsions: enhanced skin penetration and tissue antioxidant activity. J Pharm Sci 99:1346-1357.

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020