The assessment of dietary carotenoid intake of the Cardio-Med FFQ using food records and biomarkers in an Australian cardiology cohort: a pilot validation.

Dietary carotenoids are associated with lower risk of CHD. Assessment of dietary carotenoid intake using questionnaires can be susceptible to measurement error. Consequently, there is a need to validate data collected from FFQs which measure carotenoid intake. This study aimed to assess the performance of the Cardio-Med Survey Tool (CMST)-FFQ-version 2 (v2) as a measure of dietary carotenoid intake over 12-months against plasma carotenoids biomarkers and 7-Day Food Records (7DFR) in an Australian cardiology cohort. Dietary carotenoid intakes (ß- and α-carotene, lycopene, ß-cryptoxanthin and lutein/zeaxanthin) were assessed using the 105-item CMST-FFQ-v2 and compared to intakes measured by 7DFR and plasma carotenoid concentrations. Correlation coefficients were calculated between each dietary method, and validity coefficients (VCs) were calculated between each dietary method and theoretical true intake using the 'methods of triads'. Thirty-nine participants aged 37-77 years with CHD participated in the cross-sectional study. The correlation between FFQ and plasma carotenoids were largest and significant for ß-carotene (0.39, p=0.01), total carotenoids (0.37, p=0.02) and ß-cryptoxanthin (0.33, p=0.04), with weakest correlations observed for α-carotene (0.21, p=0.21) and lycopene (0.21, p=0.21). The FFQ VCs were moderate (0.3-0.6) or larger for all measured carotenoids. The strongest were observed for total carotenoids (0.61) and ß-carotene (0.59), while the weakest were observed for α-carotene (0.33) and lycopene (0.37). In conclusion, the CMST-FFQ-v2 measured dietary carotenoids intakes with moderate confidence for most carotenoids, however, there was less confidence in ability to measure α-carotene and lycopene intake, thus further research is warranted using a larger sample.

Holistic Assessment Based On Hepatocyte Mitochondria: Lycopene Repairs Oxidized mtDNA to Alleviate Mitochondrial Stress Induced by Atrazine.

Atrazine (ATZ) is a highly persistent herbicide that harms organism health. Lycopene (LYC) is an antioxidant found in plants and fruits. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of atrazine-induced mitochondrial damage and lycopene antagonism in the liver. The mice were divided into seven groups by randomization: blank control (Con group), vehicle control (Vcon group), 5 mg/kg lycopene (LYC group), 50 mg/kg atrazine (ATZ1 group), ATZ1+LYC group, 200 mg/kg atrazine (ATZ2 group), and ATZ2+LYC group. The present study performed a holistic assessment based on mitochondria to show that ATZ causes the excessive fission of mitochondria and disrupts mitochondrial biogenesis. However, the LYC supplementation reverses these changes. ATZ causes increased mitophagy and exacerbates the production of oxidized mitochondrial DNA (Ox-mtDNA) and mitochondrial stress. This study reveals that LYC could act as an antioxidant to repair Ox-mtDNA and restore the disordered mitochondrial function caused by ATZ.

Nutritionally enriched tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown with wood distillate: chemical and biological characterization for quality assessment.

Bio-based products are nowadays useful tools able to affect the productivity and quality of conventionally cultivated crops. Several bio-based products are currently on the market; one of the newest and most promising is the wood distillate (WD) derived from the pyrolysis process of waste biomass after timber. Its foliar application has been widely investigated and shown to promote the antioxidant profile of cultivated crops. WD was used here as additive for the cultivation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants. The application improved quality (chemical) parameters, minerals, polyphenols, and lycopene contents of tomato fruits. The extracts of WD-treated and untreated tomatoes have been chemically and biologically characterized. The 1 H-NMR and ESI-mass spectrometry analyses of the extracts revealed the presence of different fatty acids, amino acids and sugars. In particular, the WD-treated tomatoes showed the presence of pyroglutamic acid and phloridzin derivatives, but also dihydrokaempferol, naringenin glucoside, cinnamic acid, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside. When tested in cells, the extracts showed a promising anti-inflammatory profile in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, the extracts displayed a slight vasorelaxant activity on rat aorta rings (either endothelium-denuded or endothelium-intact) pre-contracted with phenylephrine or potassium chloride. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Wood distillate has been used for tomato plant growth. Tomatoes showed improved nutritional parameters, and their extracts displayed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Advancing carotenoid Quantification: A new method for semi-quantitative assessment of ß -Carotene and lycopene content in food extracts.

Carotenoids, such as lycopene and ß-carotene, have been widely recognized for their antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. Accurate quantification of carotenoids in plant extracts is essential for nutritional assessment, quality control, and research investigations. This study introduces an innovative method for quantifying lycopene and ß-carotene, in plant extracts and aims to bridge the gap between complex and expensive carotenoid quantification techniques and the need for accessible methods that can be widely adopted. The primary difference between HPLC and HPTLC lies in the medium used for separation. HPLC employs a liquid phase within columns, while HPTLC utilizes a thin layer of adsorbent on a plate. This distinction impacts factors like equipment, cost, and analysis time. The VisionCats software, combined with the CAMAG Visualizer-2, allows the semi-quantification of metabolites using an image-based evaluation method enabling the simultaneous assessment of qualitative and semi-quantitative information from the HPTLC images. Sample preparation involves washing and drying the vegetal material, followed by dichloromethane extraction. HPTLC analysis is performed using the CAMAG Advanced Herbal System, and the validation studies include establishing calibration curves and determining the detection threshold and minimum quantification threshold for lycopene and ß-carotene. Specificity and precision were evaluated to ensure accurate identification and repeatability of the method. Data analysis involves selecting the regression method based on the nature of the data and assessing the goodness of fit using the R2 value. The results showed distinct peaks corresponding to lycopene and ß-carotene in the chromatograms of the plant extract samples. The visualizer-based method demonstrates good specificity and precision, with no interfering peaks observed and low relative standard deviation. The method shows promising results regarding specificity, precision, and reliability. It has the potential for broader implementation in carotenoid research and rapid monitoring of carotenoid content in various agricultural and food products, particularly in resource-limited settings. Further optimization and validation on a wider range of samples would enhance the applicability of this method in carotenoid research. Sample preparation involves washing and drying the vegetal material, followed by dichloromethane extraction. HPTLC analysis is performed using the CAMAG Advanced Herbal System, and the validation studies include establishing calibration curves and determining the detection threshold and minimum quantification threshold for lycopene and ß-carotene. Specificity and precision were evaluated to ensure accurate identification and repeatability of the method. Data analysis involves selecting the regression method based on the nature of the data and assessing the goodness of fit using the R2 value. The results showed distinct peaks corresponding to lycopene and ß-carotene in the chromatograms of the plant extract samples. The visualizer-based method demonstrates good specificity and precision, with no interfering peaks observed and low relative standard deviation. The method shows promising results regarding specificity, precision, and reliability. It has the potential for broader implementation in carotenoid research and for rapid screening and monitoring of carotenoid content in various agricultural and food products, particularly in resource-limited settings. Further optimization and validation on a wider range of samples would enhance the applicability of this method in carotenoid research.

The Effects of Lycopene and Tomato Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adults: A Grade Assessment Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In recent times, modifying dietary habits to control cardiovascular risk factors has gained significant attention. However, previous studies have yielded inconsistent results regarding the effects of lycopene and tomato consumption on cardiovascular risk factors. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of consuming lycopene and tomatoes on various cardiovascular risks factors such as lipid profile, glycemic control markers, blood pressure, inflammation, oxidative stress, and body weight. METHODS: A systematic literature search was carried out using electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, up to November 2022 to identify eligible Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of lycopene and tomato consumption on cardiovascular risk factors. Heterogeneity tests of the selected trials were performed using the I2 statistic. Random effects models were assessed based on the heterogeneity tests, and pooled data were determined as the weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Out of 27,438 records initially identified, a total of 34 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that lycopene consumption was associated with a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating a potential benefit in reducing oxidative stress. However, lycopene and tomato consumption did not have significant effects on other cardiovascular risk factors such as triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), body weight, and body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings showed that lycopene and tomato consumption did not affect cardiovascular risk factors. However, lycopene supplementation may result in a significant improvement in MDA levels. With the view to confirming these results, further studies with long-term duration and different doses are needed.

Evaluation of Modern Approaches for the Assessment of Dietary Carotenoids as Markers for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption.

The assessment of dietary carotenoids via blood measurements has been widely used as a marker for fruit and vegetable consumption. In the present study, modern, non-invasive approaches to assess dietary carotenoids, such as skin measurements and an app-based short dietary record (ASDR), were compared with conventional methods such as plasma status and handwritten 3-day dietary records. In an 8-week observational study, 21 healthy participants aged 50-65 years recorded their daily consumption of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables via a specially developed ASDR. Anthropometry, blood samplings and assessment of skin carotenoids via Raman and reflection spectroscopy were performed at baseline, after four weeks and at the end of the study. App-based intake data showed good correlations with plasma α-carotene (r = 0.74, p < 0.0001), ß-carotene (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001), and total plasma carotenoids (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001); weak correlations with plasma lutein/zeaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin (both r = 0.34, p < 0.05); and no correlation with plasma lycopene. Skin measurements via reflection and Raman spectroscopy correlated well with total plasma carotenoids (r = 0.81 and 0.72, respectively; both p < 0.0001), α-carotene (r = 0.75-0.62, p < 0.0001), and ß-carotene (r = 0.79-0.71, p < 0.0001); moderately with plasma lutein/zeaxanthin (both r = 0.51, p < 0.0001); weakly with plasma ß-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.40-0.31, p < 0.05); and showed no correlation with plasma lycopene. Skin measurements could provide a more convenient and noninvasive approach of estimating a person's fruit and vegetable consumption compared to traditional methods, especially in studies that do not intend blood sampling. ASDR records might function as a suitable, convenient tool for dietary assessment in nutritional intervention studies.

Atherosclerosis Plaque Reduction by Lycopene Is Mediated by Increased Energy Expenditure through AMPK and PPARα in ApoE KO Mice Fed with a High Fat Diet.

Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes that has potent antioxidant activity. The Mediterranean diet is particularly rich in lycopene, which has well-known beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. We tested the effects of lycopene extract in a group of 20 ApoE knockout mice, fed with a high fat western diet for 14 weeks. Starting from week 3 and up to week 14, the mice were randomly divided into two groups that received lycopene (n = 10) by oral suspension every day at the human equivalent dose of 60 mg/day (0.246 mg/mouse/day), or the vehicle solution (n = 10). The lycopene administration reduced triglycerides and cholesterol blood levels starting from week 6 and continuing through to the end of the experiment (p < 0.001). This reduction was mediated by an enhanced liver expression of PPAR-α and AMPK-α and reduced SREBP levels (p < 0.0001). As a histological red-out, the extent of atherosclerotic plaques and the intima−media thickness in the aorta were significantly reduced by lycopene. In this context, lycopene augmented the Nrf-2 positivity staining in the endothelium, thereby confirming that its antioxidant activity was mediated by this nuclear factor. The positive results obtained in this pre-clinical model further support the use of lycopene extracts to reduce atherosclerosis.

Novel carotenogenic gene combinations from red yeasts enhanced lycopene and beta-carotene production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the low-cost substrate sucrose.

Carotenoids (C40H56) including lycopene and beta-carotene are relatively strong antioxidants that provide benefits to human health. Here, we screened highly efficient crt variants from red yeasts to improve lycopene and beta-carotene production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We identified that crt variants from Sporidiobolus pararoseus TBRC-BCC 63403 isolated from rice leaf in Thailand exhibited the highest activity in term of lycopene and beta-carotene production in the context of yeast. Specifically, the phytoene desaturase SpCrtI possessed up to 4-fold higher in vivo activity based on lycopene content than the benchmark enzyme BtCrtI from Blakeslea trispora in our engineered WWY005 strain. Also, the geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase SpCrtE, the bifunctional phytoene synthase-lycopene cyclase SpCrtYB, and SpCrtI when combined led to 7-fold improvement in beta-carotene content over the benchmark enzymes from Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous in the laboratory strain CEN.PK2-1C. Sucrose as an alternative to glucose was found to enhance lycopene production in cells lacking GAL80. Lastly, we demonstrated a step-wise improvement in lycopene production from shake-flasks to a 5-L fermenter using the strain with GAL80 intact. Altogether, our study represents novel findings on more effective crt genes from Sp. pararoseus over the previously reported benchmark genes and their potential applications in scale-up lycopene production.

Molecular docking and toxicity assessment of spirodiclofen: protective role of lycopene.

In this study, toxic effects of spirodiclofen and protective role of lycopene against toxic effects were investigated by using physiological, cytogenetic, anatomical, and biochemical parameters. Allium cepa L. bulbs were used as test material. The bulbs were divided into six groups as one control and five application groups. Bulb in the control group was germinated with tap water, and in treatment groups, 20-mg L-1 dose of spirodiclofen 215- and 430-mg L-1 doses of lycopene were applied. Spirodiclofen application caused a decrease in physiological parameters such as germination percentage, root length, and weight increase. Spirodiclofen administration caused a decrease in the percentage of mitotic index (MI) and an increase in DNA fragmentation, micronucleus (MN), and chromosomal aberration (CA) frequency. Spirodiclofen application caused an increase in the level of the oxidant compound malondialdehyde (MDA), changes in the level of antioxidant enzymes, and disruption of the oxidant/antioxidant balance in the cell. Molecular interactions between spirodiclofen and antioxidant enzymes were determined by molecular docking analysis. In addition to physiological, biochemical, and genetic abnormalities, spirodiclofen also caused deformations in the anatomy of the A. cepa root tip meristematic cells. Lycopene treatment showed a protective effect by suppressing the toxic effects of spirodiclofen, causing a significant improvement in the values of selected physiological, cytogenetic, anatomical, and biochemical parameters. As a result, spirodiclofen insecticide caused toxic effects on various parameters in A. cepa, which is a eukaryotic model organism. In order to elucidate the toxicity mechanism, each parameter is associated with each other. Molecular docking method has revealed the effects of spirodiclofen on antioxidant enzymes. Lycopene application together with spirodiclofen resulted in the regression of all toxic effects and improvement in the root tissue. This result shows that lycopene has a strong protective property against spirodiclofen toxicity.

Towards sustainable management of tomato pomace through the recovery of valuable compounds and sequential production of low-cost biosorbent.

The present study focused on the full valorization of the tomato by-product, also known as tomato pomace consisting mainly of tomato peels and tomato seeds, by recovering natural antioxidants and edible oil, and subsequently reutilizing the leftover solid residues for the production of low-cost biosorbent. The tomato peel extract recovered using ethanol as food-grade solvent contained high phenol and flavonoid contents (199.35 ± 0.35-mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g and 102.10 ± 0.03-mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g, respectively). Even its lower content of lycopene (3.67 ± 0.04 mg/100 g), tomato peel extract showed potent antioxidant activity and can be therefore used as natural antioxidants either for food or cosmetic applications. High nutritional quality edible oil (17.15%) was extracted from tomato seeds and showed richness in unsaturated fatty acids (74.62%), with linoleic acid being the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid (49.70%). After recovery of these valuable compounds, the extraction solid leftovers were used to produce low-cost biosorbent tested for dye removal. Results showed that the highest biosorption yields were increasingly attributed to the acidic, direct, anthraquinone, then reactive dyes. Overall, the obtained results strongly support the complete utilization of tomato pomace for the recovery of valuable compounds and the sequential production of low-cost biosorbent.

The Role of Health Information in Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Canned Crushed Tomatoes Enriched with Lycopene.

The paper investigated whether information about the health benefit produced by lycopene could influence consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for canned crushed tomatoes enriched with lycopene. An additional aim was to determine whether the main socio-demographic variables, such as sex, age, income and selected attitudinal factors, affect WTP. To this end, a non-hypothetical experimental auction was carried on with five repeated rounds. Results show a relevant impact of information on WTP in the case of lycopene-enriched products, whereas no difference in bids emerges for the conventional product, either on average or at the quantiles. Previous knowledge seems to have a modest influence upon WTP, but it shows a significant interaction with the information shock provided during the experiment, so that the effect of the latter is more pronounced when previous knowledge is low. In addition, age, sex, food technology neophobia, trust in science and implicit attitudes towards food technology significantly affect participants' WTP.

Characterisation of bioactive compounds and assessment of antioxidant activity of different traditional Lycopersicum esculentum L. varieties: chemometric analysis.

Eight different Serbian genotypes were analysed for their polyphenol, carotenoid, vitamin C content and evaluated for their antioxidant properties. The highest content of biologically important carotenoids such as lutein (4.58 mg/10 g), lycopene (160.64 mg/10 g) and ß-carotene (189.64 mg/10 g) were detected in the genotype S606. Rutin was the most abundant phenolic compound in all tastes samples, but its content is highest in the genotype S615 (1424.30 µg/100 g dw). All tomato samples were the great source of vitamin C, where the sample S615 stood out (68.54 mg AA g-1 of dw). Their content of antioxidant compounds suggested that genotypes S606 and S615 showed the best antioxidant potential. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Partial least squares (PLS) were applied to analyse results. The results obtained in the present study could be of considerable interest for breeding programmes wishing to select tomato genotypes with high biological and nutritional properties.

Non-Invasive Immunofluorescence Assessment of Lycopene Supplementation Status in Skin Smears.

Circulating lycopene level is negatively associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, cancers (prostate and breast), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and aging. Traditionally, lycopene is measured in biological specimens by a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry methods. Moreover, as we recently reported, tissue/cell lycopene depositions can be observed by the immunohistochemistry method with a newly developed monoclonal antibody (mAb) against lycopene. A main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a new noninvasive immunofluorescence (IF) lycopene quantification skin test with mAbs against lycopene versus HPLC lycopene assay of serum lycopene in volunteers subjected to lycopene supplementation which represents a novel approach to lycopene measurement methodology. For this purpose, 32 healthy volunteers, 30-40 years old, were supplemented with lycopene (n = 15) or placebo (n = 17) for a period of 4 weeks. It was found that lycopene supplementation leads to a significant increase in serum lycopene concentration after 2 and 4 weeks by 2.6- and 3.4-fold over control, respectively. This was accompanied by a concordant step-wise rise in IF staining of skin corneocytes and sebum, quantifiable by arbitrary IF scores. Placebo supplementation did not affect serum lycopene values or intensity of IF staining of the skin samples. There was 86.6% agreement in paired HPLC/IF variants for the intermediate time point and 80.0% agreement at the end of the study in the lycopene group. Intraclass correlation between paired values in this group was +0.49 for the 2-week time point and +0.63 for the end point. These results indicate that the new antibody-based skin assay can be used for rapid detection of lycopene deficiencies. Moreover, the noninvasive nature of the skin swab test would allow using it to monitor, optimize, and personalize lycopene supplementation protocol of risk groups in the general population.

Lipid Based nanoformulation of lycopene improves oral delivery: formulation optimization, ex vivo assessment and its efficacy against breast cancer.

This study aims at developing an optimised nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) of lycopene for efficient absorption following oral administration. The optimised formulation showed an average particle size of 121.9 ± 3.66 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) 0.370 ± 0.97 and zeta potential -29.0 ± 0.83 mV. Encapsulation Efficiency (% EE) and drug loading (% DL) was found to be 84.50% ± 4.38 and 9.54% ± 2.65, respectively. In vitro release studies demonstrated the burst release within 4-9 h followed by sustained release over 48 h. The IC50 value of lycopene extract and optimised NLC for ABTS+• were found to be 172.37 µg Trolox equivalent and 184.17 µg Trolox equivalent whereas, for DPPH•, 117.76 µg Trolox equivalent and 143.08 µg Trolox equivalent respectively. Ex vivo studies and MTT assay revealed that the NLC had better permeation and cause sufficiently more cytotoxicity as compared to drug extract due to higher bioavailability and greater penetration.

Safety Assessment of Oil from Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.): Evaluation of the Potential Genotoxic and Clastogenic Effects.

Genotoxic data of medicinal plants and functional foods are required as part of the risk assessment by international regulatory agencies. Due to its food consumption and ethnopharmacological relevance, pequi oil (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) is one of these compounds to be studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and clastogenic effects of the oil from the pulp of C. brasiliense (OPCB) in vivo and in vitro. Initially, the Artemia salina in vitro assay was conducted to determine the cells viability rate of different doses of the OPCB. Subsequently, comet assay (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD 489) and micronucleus test (OECD 474) were performed in blood and bone marrow of Wistar rats treated orally with a 125, 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg/bw of the OPCB for 4 weeks. The chemical analysis indicated the presence of ß-carotene and lycopene in the oil. In the A. salina test, all OPCB doses maintained cell viability rates statistically similar to the negative control. The in vivo tests performed showed that OPCB did not show significant genotoxic or clastogenic effects in cells analyzed with the four doses tested. Altogether, these results indicate that, under our experimental conditions, C. brasiliense fruit oil did not reveal genetic toxicity in rat cells.

Stability assessment of lycopene microemulsion prepared using tomato industrial waste against various processing conditions.

BACKGROUND: Green separation techniques are growing at a greater rate than solvent extraction as a result of the constant consumer drive to 'go natural'. Considering the increasing evidence of the health benefits of lycopene and massive tomato industrial waste, in the present study, lycopene was extracted from tomato industrial waste using microemulsion technique and its mean droplet size and size distribution was determined. Moreover, the effects of pasteurization, sterilization, freeze-thaw cycles and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on the thermodynamic stability, turbidity and lycopene concentration of the lycopene microemulsion were monitored. RESULTS: Freeze-thaw cycles, pasteurization and short exposure to UV irradiation showed no or negligible influence on lycopene content and turbidity of the microemulsion. However, long exposure to UV (260 min) reduced the lycopene content and turbidity by 34% and 10%, respectively. HHST (higher-heat shorter-time) and sterilization also reduced lycopene content (25%) and increased turbidity (32%). CONCLUSION: The lycopene microemulsion showed satisfactory stability over a process where its monodispersity and nanosize could be of potential advantage to the food and related industries. Regarding the carcinogenicity of synthetic colourants, potential applications of the lycopene microemulsion include in soft drinks and minced meat, which would result in a better colour and well-documented health-promoting qualities. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Safety assessment of a natural tomato oleoresin containing high amounts of Z-isomers of lycopene prepared with supercritical carbon dioxide.

BACKGROUND: Z-isomers of lycopene, which are abundantly present in processed tomato products, are more bioavailable than (all-E)-lycopene found predominantly in raw tomatoes. Despite extensive studies on the bioavailability and biological activities of Z-isomers of lycopene, detailed studies on their safety and toxicology are limited. RESULTS: The geno-, acute and subacute toxicities of tomato oleoresin that contained high amounts of lycopene Z-isomers (10.9% lycopene with 66.3% Z-isomer content) and had been prepared with supercritical carbon dioxide were investigated. The oleoresin was non-mutagenic in the Ames test with and without metabolic activation (S9 mix). The medial lethal dose (LD50 ) of the oleoresin in rats, as determined by a single-dose oral test, was more than 5000 mg kg body weight-1 (bw) [361 mg (Z)-lycopene kg bw-1 ]. In the 4-week repeated-dose oral toxicity test, rats were administered oleoresin at 4500 mg kg-1 day-1 [325 mg (Z)-lycopene kg bw-1 day-1 ]. There were no clinically significant changes with respect to vital signs, physical examination outcomes and laboratory test values during the test period. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings and as supported by its long history of consumption, tomato oleoresin that contains high amounts of Z-isomers of lycopene prepared with supercritical carbon dioxide can be considered as safe for human consumption. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Nutritional quality assessment of tomato fruits after exposure to uncoated and citric acid coated cerium oxide nanoparticles, bulk cerium oxide, cerium acetate and citric acid.

Little is known about the effects of surface modification on the interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with plants. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants were cultivated in potting soil amended with bare and citric acid coated nanoceria (nCeO2, nCeO2+CA), cerium acetate (CeAc), bulk cerium oxide (bCeO2) and citric acid (CA) at 0-500 mg kg-1. Fruits were collected year-round until the harvesting time (210 days). Results showed that nCeO2+CA at 62.5, 250 and 500 mg kg-1 reduced dry weight by 54, 57, and 64% and total sugar by 84, 78, and 81%. At 62.5, 125, and 500 mg kg-1 nCeO2+CA decreased reducing sugar by 63, 75, and 52%, respectively and at 125 mg kg-1 reduced starch by 78%, compared to control. The bCeO2 at 250 and 500 mg kg-1, increased reducing sugar by 67 and 58%. In addition, when compared to controls, nCeO2 at 500 mg kg-1 reduced B (28%), Fe (78%), Mn (33%), and Ca (59%). At 125 mg kg-1 decreased Al by 24%; while nCeO2+CA at 125 and 500 mg kg-1 increased B by 33%. On the other hand, bCeO2 at 62.5 mg kg-1 increased Ca (267%), but at 250 mg kg-1 reduced Cu (52%), Mn (33%), and Mg (58%). Fruit macromolecules were mainly affected by nCeO2+CA, while nutritional elements by nCeO2; however, all Ce treatments altered, in some way, the nutritional quality of tomato fruit. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing effects of uncoated and coated nanoceria on tomato fruit quality.

Lycopene: Heterogeneous Catalytic E/Z Isomerization and In Vitro Bioaccessibility Assessment Using a Diffusion Model.

Highly efficient heterogeneous catalytic E/Z isomerization of lycopene was achieved using an iodine-doped titanium dioxide (I-TiO2 ) catalyst prepared by sol-gel method. The effects of reaction temperature and reaction time were investigated in detail. The maximum total Z-ratio of lycopene exceeded 78% after 2 h of refluxing at 75 °C in ethyl acetate. Moreover, lycopene samples with a series of total Z-ratios were prepared and the bioaccessibility of these samples was estimated using a diffusion model, the results showed that the bioaccessibility of lycopene markedly increased conforming to a linear regression model with increasing of the total Z-ratio of lycopene from 3.6% to 78.5%. Furthermore, the specific role of the microstructure and melting point of 3.6% and 78.5% total Z-ratio of lycopene was also investigated to understand the probable mechanism for the enhanced bioaccessbility of (Z)-lycopenes.