Lycopene (molecular formula C40H56), also known as lycopene. It is a lipophilic bright red carotenoid pigment that is a tetra-terpenoid with no vitamin A activity; it is found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, grapefruit, papaya, and carrots.
It is one of the most common and potent carotenoid antioxidants in the human body. Its English name Lycopene is derived from the tomato species classification Solanum lycopersicum.
The color of lycopene is due to the conjugated double bond of carbon (i.e., a structure in which single and double bonds interact). The double bond reduces the energy required for electrons to jump to higher energy levels, allowing the molecule to absorb longer wavelengths of visible light. Lycopene absorbs most of the visible light, hence its red color.
Lycopene is insoluble in water and can be used as a food coloring. Porous materials are easily stained by lycopene.
If a textile is just stained with tomato juice, it can be easily removed. However, if plastic is stained with lycopene, the lycopene will spread into the plastic and cannot be removed by either hot water, soap, or detergent (although bleach can be used to destroy the structure of the lycopene).
1. Prevention and suppression of cancer: the latest research results show that the daily intake of 30 mg of lycopene can achieve the prevention of prostate cancer, digestive tract cancer and bladder cancer and other cancer effects. The human body cannot synthesize lycopene and must take it from the diet, eating a raw tomato can only absorb 0.05 mg of lycopene. Therefore, lycopene supplementation is essential in the treatment of prostate disease.
2. Cardiovascular protection: Lipoprotein oxidation in the intima is a key factor in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Lycopene plays an important role in reducing lipoprotein oxidation. It has been reported that oral administration of natural lycopene can reduce serum cholesterol to below 5.20 mmol/L. Lycopene is used to prevent high cholesterol and hyperlipidemia, which can slow the development of cardiovascular disease.
3. Anti-UV radiation function: lycopene can fight UV damage. Researchers to 10 healthy people each supplemented with 28 mg of beta-carotene and 2 mg of lycopene 1-2 months, the results of taking lycopene crowd UV-induced erythema reduction in area, the degree of reduction.
4. Inhibit mutagenesis: one of the important mechanisms of tumor generation is the genetic mutation of tissue cells under the action of external mutagens, and lycopene can block this process and play an anti-cancer role. For example, the use of tomato sauce along with fish and meat in the Mediterranean region reduces the formation of mutagens such as heteroamines during the cooking process. Therefore, although the local residents like to eat carcinogenic fried food, but the incidence of cervical cancer, prostate cancer and liver cancer is very low.
5. Delay aging, enhance immunity: lycopene can most effectively remove free radicals in the body, maintain normal cell metabolism and prevent aging. Lycopene in the body through the digestive tract mucous membrane absorption into the blood and lymph, distributed to the testes, adrenal glands, prostate, pancreas, breasts, ovaries, liver, lungs, colon, skin and various mucosal tissues, promote glandular secretion of hormones, so that the body to maintain vigorous energy; remove free radicals in these organs and tissues to protect them from harm and enhance the body's immunity. Indian scholars pointed out that lycopene can make infertile men increase the number of sperm, increased vitality, so as to cure infertility problems.
6. Lycopene can greatly improve skin allergies, eliminate dry and itchy skin caused by skin allergies, so that people feel relaxed and happy.
7. Lycopene to protect mucous membranes, lycopene exists in large quantities in the body of various mucous membrane tissues, long-term use can improve a variety of discomfort caused by the destruction of mucous membrane tissue in the body. Such as dry cough, dry eyes, mouth ulcers, protection of the gastrointestinal tract mucosal tissue, etc.
8. Lycopene also has a very strong effect on alcohol. The metabolic process of alcohol in the body is mainly redox reactions, will produce a large number of free radicals. Usually take lycopene, can increase the amount of alcohol; drinking before taking, the effect of alcohol, can reduce alcohol damage to the liver; and drunkenness after taking, can reduce headaches, vomiting and other symptoms of drunkenness.
9. Lycopene also has a variety of physiological functions such as prevention of osteoporosis, lowering blood pressure, reduce asthma caused by exercise.
Items | Standards | Results |
Physical Analysis | ||
Description | Red powder | Complies |
Assay | 5% Lycopene | Complies |
Mesh Size | 100 % pass 80 mesh | Complies |
Ash | ≤ 5.0% | 2.85% |
| Loss on Drying | ≤ 5.0% | 2.85% |
| Chemical Analysis | ||
| Heavy Metal | ≤ 10.0 mg/kg | Complies |
| Pb | ≤ 2.0 mg/kg | Complies |
| As | ≤ 1.0 mg/kg | Complies |
| Hg | ≤ 0.1 mg/kg | Complies |
| Microbiological Analysis | ||
| Residue of Pesticide | Negative | Negative |
| Total Plate Count | ≤ 1000cfu/g | Complies |
| Yeast&Mold | ≤ 100cfu/g | Complies |
| E.coil | Negative | Negative |
| Salmonella | Negative | Negative |