Lycopene

Lycopene is naturally occurring carotenoids found in tomato, tomato products, and in other red fruits and vegetables; exhibits antioxidant effects.
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Lycopene is an acyclic carotene commonly obtained from tomatoes and other red fruits. It has a role as an antioxidant and a plant metabolite. It contains a carotenoid. psi-end group.|Lycopene is a naturally occuring red carotenoid pigment that is responsible in red to pink colors seen in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and other foods. Having a chemical formula of C40H56, lycopene is a tetraterpene assembled from eight isoprene units that are solely composed of carbon and hydrogen. Lycophene may undergo extensive isomerization that allows 1056 theoretical cis-trans configurations; however the all-trans configuration of lycopene is the most predominant isomer found in foods that gives the red hue. Lycopene is a non-essential human nutrient that is classified as a non-provitamin A carotenoid pigment since it lacks a terminal beta ionone ring and does not mediate vitamin A activity. However lycophene is a potent antioxidant molecule that scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) singlet oxygen. Tomato lycopene extract is used as a color additive in food products.|Lycopene is a linear, unsaturated hydrocarbon carotenoid, the major red pigment in fruits such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit, apricots, red oranges, watermelon, rosehips, and guava. As a class, carotenoids are pigment compounds found in photosynthetic organisms (plants, algae, and some types of fungus), and are chemically characterized by a large polyene chain containing 35-40 carbon atoms; some carotenoid polyene chains are terminated by two 6-carbon rings. In animals, carotenoids such as lycopene may possess antioxidant properties which may retard aging and many degenerative diseases. As an essential nutrient, lycopene is required in the animal diet. (NCI04)|A carotenoid and red pigment produced by tomatoes, other red fruits and vegetables, and photosynthetic algae. It is a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of other carotenoids, and has antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, radioprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties.