Bhuvaneswari V, Nagini S
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
Curr Med Chem Anticancer Agents. 2005 Nov;5(6):627-35. doi: 10.2174/156801105774574667.
Dietary chemoprevention has emerged as a cost effective approach to control most prevalent chronic diseases including cancer. In particular, tomato and tomato products are recognised to confer a wide range of health benefits. Epidemiological studies have provided evidence that high consumption of tomatoes effectively lowers the risk of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer by improving the antioxidant capacity. Tomatoes are rich sources of lycopene, an antioxidant carotenoid reported to be a more stable and potent singlet oxygen quenching agent compared to other carotenoids. In addition to its antioxidant properties, lycopene shows an array of biological effects including cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. The anticancer activity of lycopene has been demonstrated both in in vitro and in vivo tumour models. The mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of lycopene on carcinogenesis could involve ROS scavenging, upregulation of detoxification systems, interference with cell proliferation, induction of gap-junctional communication, inhibition of cell cycle progression and modulation of signal transduction pathways. This review outlines the sources, structure, absorption, metabolism, bioavailability and pharmacological properties of lycopene with special reference to its antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effects.
膳食化学预防已成为一种控制包括癌症在内的最常见慢性病的经济有效方法。特别是，番茄及番茄制品被认为具有广泛的健康益处。流行病学研究已提供证据表明，大量食用番茄可通过提高抗氧化能力有效降低活性氧（ROS）介导的疾病如心血管疾病和癌症的风险。番茄是番茄红素的丰富来源，据报道，与其他类胡萝卜素相比，番茄红素是一种更稳定、更有效的单线态氧猝灭剂。除了具有抗氧化特性外，番茄红素还具有一系列生物学效应，包括心脏保护、抗炎、抗诱变和抗癌活性。番茄红素的抗癌活性已在体外和体内肿瘤模型中得到证实。番茄红素对致癌作用的抑制作用的潜在机制可能涉及清除ROS、上调解毒系统、干扰细胞增殖、诱导间隙连接通讯、抑制细胞周期进程以及调节信号转导通路。本综述概述了番茄红素的来源、结构、吸收、代谢、生物利用度和药理特性，并特别提及了其抗氧化和抗癌作用。
