Lycopene

One of the carotenoids present in fruits and vegetables, particularly tomatoes [1]. Acts as an antioxidant, and protects cells against photooxidative damage [2]. Tomato juice has been found to inhibit chemically induced rat urinary bladder tumor formation [3]. In humans, the consumption of tomato-based foods has been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer, and evidence suggests that this is due to the presence of lycopene in these foods [4]. Lycopene is under investigation as a chemopreventive agent. Dietary lycopene decreases chemically induced liver preneoplastic foci in the rat [5]. A diet supplemented with lycopene was found to significantly suppress spontaneous mammary tumor development in SHN virgin mice [6]. Recently, serum lycopene concentrations have been associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer in women [7]. The chemopreventive properties of lycopene may be attributed to its antioxidant nature [8]. Alternatively, a correlation has been found betweeen the ability of carotenoids such as lycopene to enhance gap junction communication and their abilities to inhibit chemically-induced neoplastic transformations in C3H/10T1/2 cells [9].