Description
Lycopeneisacarotenefoundintomatoesandotherredfruitsandvegetables;itisoccasionallyusedasapigmentdye.Lycopeneexhibitscardioprotective,hepatoprotective,antioxidative,andanticanceractivity.Lycopeneactivatesretinoicacidreceptors(RARs)butdoesnotexhibitsignificantvitaminAactivity.Incardiomyocytes,lycopeneinhibitshypertrophyandAkt/GSK-3βsignalingandincreasesexpressionofPTEN.Inbreastcancercells,thiscompoundinducescellcyclearrestandapoptosisanddecreasescellularviABIlity.Additionally,lycopenedecreaseslevelsofmalondialdehydeandlactatedehydrogenaseandincreaseslevelsofcatalaseinanimalmodelsofhepaticischemia/reperfusion.