( 11) first reported lycopene derivatives in human blood plasma, which were later identified as two diastereomeric forms of 2,6-cyclolycopene-1,5-diol ( 12). It has also been suggested that metabolites of lycopene may be bioactive ( 9, 10). Many researchers have suggested that lycopene, the most abundant carotenoid in red tomatoes, may be responsible for this effect ( 6– 8). In addition, the presence of apo-lycopenals in plasma may derive from the absorption of apo-lycopenals directly from food and/or human metabolism.Įpidemiological studies have repeatedly correlated increased consumption of tomato and tomato products with reduction in the incidence of a number of cancers and other chronic diseases ( 1– 5). We conclude that several apo-lycopenals, in addition to apo-6′- and 8′-lycopenal, are present in lycopene containing foods. The sum of apo-lycopenals was 6.5 µg/100 g ‘Roma’ tomato, 73.4 µg/100 g tomato paste, and 1.9 nmol/L of plasma. Apo-6′-, 8′-, 10′-, 12′-, and 14′-lycopenals were detected and quantified in all food products tested, as well as plasma. Hexane/acetone extracts of raw tomato, red grapefruit, watermelon, and processed tomato products were analyzed, as well as plasma of individuals who had consumed tomato juice for eight weeks. Apo-lycopenal standards were prepared by in vitro oxidation of lycopene, and a high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in negative mode was developed to separate and detect the apo-6′-, 8′-, 10′-, 12′-, 14′-, and 15′-lycopenal products formed in the reaction.
![ferret duplicate detector ferret duplicate detector](https://planningcenterassets.s3.amazonaws.com/blog_images/2018/02-12-duplicate-detection/duplicate-detector-primary-graphic.png)
![ferret duplicate detector ferret duplicate detector](https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/2021/thescentofsi.jpg)
We now show that several other apo-lycopenals are also present in raw and processed foods, as well as in human plasma.
![ferret duplicate detector ferret duplicate detector](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ca1pLjW9QJg/maxresdefault.jpg)
Apo-6′-lycopenal and apo-8′-lycopenal have been reported previously in raw tomato. Research has suggested that lycopene may be metabolized by eccentric cleavage, catalyzed by β-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2), resulting in the generation of apo-lycopenals.