Lycopene is a fat-soluble carotenoid molecule that is found in high concentrations in red fruits and vegetables and has a strong antioxidant effect [1]. Lycopene can inhibit the activity of HMG-CoA reductase[2]. Lycopene can induce G0/G1 arrest and S phase arrest of the cell cycle[3].
In vitro, Lycopene (1-5μM) treatment of HT-29, T84, and MCF-7 cells for 48h significantly reduced the number of viable cells, with a 30% reduction in HT-29 and T84 cells and a 10% reduction in MCF-7 cells, and also caused cell cycle arrest at different stages [4]. Lycopene (0.5-10μM) treatment of SK-Hep-1 cells reduced the production of intracellular ROS by inhibiting the NADPH oxidase produced in the PKC pathway [5].
In vivo, oral treatment of mice inoculated with SK-Hep-1 tumor cells with Lycopene (20 mg/kg) for 12 weeks significantly reduced the average number of tumors and tumor cross-sectional area, and also reduced the positive rate of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in lung tissue, as well as the expression of PCNA, MMP-9 and VEGF proteins [6]. Oral treatment of diabetic rats with Lycopene (10 mg/kg) significantly reduced the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in plasma and heart tissue [7].
References:
[1] Wang Q, Wu X, Zhang J, et al. Role of ROS/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in di-n-butyl phthalate-induced testosterone synthesis inhibition and antagonism of lycopene[J]. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2023, 175: 113741.
[2] Palozza P, Catalano A, Simone R E, et al. Effect of lycopene and tomato products on cholesterol metabolism[J]. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2012, 61(2): 126-134.
[3] Hwang E S, Bowen P E. Cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis by lycopene in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells[J]. Journal of medicinal food, 2004, 7(3): 284-289.
[4] Teodoro A J, Oliveira F L, Martins N B, et al. Effect of lycopene on cell viability and cell cycle progression in human cancer cell lines[J]. Cancer cell international, 2012, 12: 1-9.
[5] Bandeira A C B, da Silva T P, de Araujo G R, et al. Lycopene inhibits reactive oxygen species production in SK-Hep-1 cells and attenuates acetaminophen-induced liver injury in C57BL/6 mice[J]. Chemico-Biological Interactions, 2017, 263: 7-17.
[6] Huang C S, Liao J W, Hu M L. Lycopene inhibits experimental metastasis of human hepatoma SK-Hep-1 cells in athymic nude mice[J]. The Journal of nutrition, 2008, 138(3): 538-543.
[7] Ozmutlu S, Dede S, Ceylan E. The effect of lycopene treatment on ACE activity in rats with experimental diabetes[J]. Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, 2012, 13(3): 328-333.