Lycopene, a carotenoid found in plant foods, is also a red pigment. Dark red needle-like crystals, soluble in chloroform, benzene and fats, but not in water. It is unstable to light and oxygen, and turns brown when it meets iron. Molecular formula C40H56, relative molecular weight 536.85. There are 11 conjugated double bonds and 2 non-conjugated double bonds in the molecular structure, forming a linear hydrocarbon compound. There is no physiological activity of vitamin A, but it has a strong antioxidant function. The content of ripe red plant fruits is higher, especially in tomatoes, carrots, watermelons, papaya and guava. It can be used as a pigment in food processing, and is often used as a raw material for antioxidant health food.
The long-chain polyunsaturated olefin molecular structure of lycopene gives it a strong ability to eliminate free radicals and antioxidant capacity. The current researches on its biological effects mainly focus on anti-oxidation, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, reducing genetic damage, and inhibiting the occurrence and development of tumors.
The in vitro antioxidant capacity of lycopene has been confirmed by many experiments. The ability of lycopene to quench singlet oxygen is more than twice that of the currently commonly used antioxidant β-carotene and 100 times that of vitamin E.
It can deeply remove vascular waste, regulate plasma cholesterol concentration, protect low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from oxidation, repair and perfect oxidized cells, promote intercellular glial formation, and enhance blood vessel flexibility.
It has functions such as reducing skin damage from radiation or ultraviolet (UV). When UV irradiates the skin, the lycopene in the skin combines with the free radicals generated by UV to protect the skin tissue from damage. Compared with the skin without UV irradiation, the lycopene is reduced by 31% to 46%, and the content of other ingredients is almost constant.
It can activate immune cells, protect phagocytes from their own oxidative damage, promote the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes, stimulate the function of effector T cells, promote the production of certain interleukins and inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators.
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