Iycopene the tomato's secret weapon

摘要

LyCOpene iS tlie red antioxidant that gives tomatoes their color. It's part of a large family of antioxidants and plant pigments known as carotenoids. Although in smaller concentrations, lycopene is also found in watermelon, guava, pink grapefruit, papaya and apricot. Natural-source lycopene is somewhat of a misnomer because it contains many related antioxidants. Researchers believe that this natural complex of related substances exerts a synergistic biological effect—the sum being greater than itsparts. Widespread interest can be traced back to a 1995 article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which reported that diets high in lycopene-rich tomato sauces significantly reduced the risk of prostate cancer.