Is Lycopene An Antioxidant?

Lycopene is a bright red pigment found in tomatoes, watermelon, apricots, pink grapefruit, papaya, some mushrooms and a variety of other foods. As a carotenoid, lycopene is capable of gathering light, so it plays a role in photosynthesis, and, according to the February 1996 issue of "FASEB Journal," it helps to protect plants from the damaging effects of light. Lycopene’s chemical structure allows it to aggressively scavenge free radicals from its surroundings, making it an effective antioxidant.

Free Radical Damage

Scientists believe that many chronic diseases result from tissue injury caused by free radicals. A free radical is any atom or molecule that possesses an unpaired electron in its outer shell. Free radicals are unstable and particularly reactive, because unpaired electrons “seek” a complementary opposite electron. Free radicals are routinely generated during cellular metabolism; some are even needed to complete specific chemical reactions. However, if they are not cleared away quickly, free radicals can trigger chain reactions that damage lipid membranes, enzymes, chromosomes and other cellular components. Dr. Elson Haas, author of “Staying Healthy with Nutrition,” states that hundreds of clinical trials have demonstrated a relationship between free radical damage and human disease.

Antioxidants Neutralize Free Radicals

When a free radical removes an electron from another molecule, the second molecule is “oxidized,” which changes its electronic configuration and alters the way it interacts chemically. However, some molecules possess the special ability to “absorb” the unpaired electron from a free radical, thereby preventing it from damaging other vital cellular components. These molecules are called antioxidants, and their activities are essential for the continuing viability of your cells. Your cells produce some antioxidants, such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase, but dietary antioxidants play a major role in reducing free radical damage.

Lycopene Is a Potent Antioxidant

In its natural state, lycopene is a long, straight molecule with 11 special bonds, called "conjugated" bonds, that allow it to absorb light and “quench” free radicals. A 1989 study in “Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics” demonstrated that lycopene was the most efficient biological scavenger of singlet oxygen free radicals, which are commonly produced during cellular metabolism. In fact, lycopene's ability to neutralize singlet oxygen radicals surpassed the antioxidant capabilities of beta-carotene and vitamin E.

Considerations

Lycopene has been credited with a variety of health benefits, including a reduction in the risks for prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses. Like many similar studies, a 2005 trial in “The British Journal of Nutrition” demonstrated that the regular consumption of lycopene helped improve cellular antioxidant protection. Although lycopene is not approved for treating or preventing any disease, it is nontoxic and can be readily included in your daily diet.