When bright red, plump tomatoes from dining tables enter modern laboratories, a precious natural carotenoid has attracted widespread attention across the wellness sector — lycopene. Evolving from an everyday food ingredient into a raw material for dietary supplements and functional foods, this natural red pigment sourced from fruits and vegetables has become a standout star ingredient in the natural antioxidant field backed by abundant scientific research data.

A key fact worth noting: the human body cannot synthesize lycopene on its own, and all lycopene must be obtained through dietary intake. Many people are unaware that processed tomato products such as tomato paste and tomato juice deliver higher lycopene bioavailability compared with raw fresh tomatoes. Heat treatment breaks down tomato cell walls, releasing fat-soluble lycopene for easier human absorption. This is the scientific principle behind the claim that cooked tomatoes offer superior nutritional benefits.

Lycopene’s core strength lies in its potent antioxidant capacity. Abundant conjugated double bonds in its molecular structure act like free radical scavengers, efficiently eliminating reactive oxygen species in the body and exhibiting remarkable singlet oxygen quenching effects. Relevant research indicates that lycopene is approximately twice as effective as β-carotene and 100 times more effective than vitamin E at quenching singlet oxygen, ranking it among the most efficient natural carotenoid antioxidants. Thanks to its outstanding antioxidant properties, lycopene alleviates cellular oxidative damage and maintains cellular homeostasis, laying a molecular foundation for a wide range of health-related effects.

Numerous basic experiments and clinical correlational studies have uncovered multi-dimensional potential health benefits of lycopene, covering ageing regulation, cardiovascular maintenance and skin protection.

In anti-ageing research, ageing is closely linked to the continuous accumulation of free radicals in the body. Experiments confirm that lycopene activates the endogenous Nrf2 antioxidant defense pathway, reduces reactive oxygen species levels and mitigates mitochondrial damage. It also modulates inflammatory signaling pathways, curbs the release of inflammatory factors and moderately inhibits cell apoptosis, supporting healthy ageing at the cellular level.

Cardiovascular health is a well-researched area for lycopene. Lycopene participates in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and promoting cholesterol excretion to help optimize blood lipid profiles. It also reduces the oxidative susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and slows the progression of atherosclerosis. Clinical observations show lycopene protects vascular endothelial cells and improves vascular physiological function, granting it potential application value in daily auxiliary support for cardiovascular health.

Lycopene also demonstrates promising potential for skin protection. Ultraviolet radiation is the primary trigger of skin photoageing. Consumption of lycopene-containing foods or related formulations can boost the skin’s tolerance to UV rays. It suppresses the expression of enzymes responsible for UV-induced collagen degradation, stabilizes skin tissue structure and reduces photoageing signs such as fine lines and sagging, supporting skin care from within.

Safety and regulatory compliance are essential prerequisites for the industrial application of raw materials. Lycopene is recognized by authoritative institutions in many countries and regions worldwide. In China, lycopene is permitted as a food colorant under GB 2760 standards. It is also an approved raw material for health foods, with multiple certified health food products launched on the market bearing functional claims including antioxidant activity and auxiliary protection against chemical liver injury. The US FDA lists lycopene as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe); the EU regulates it as a novel food ingredient; Japan allows its use in foods with functional claims; Canada and Australia also approve its application in food and health products. Comprehensive regulatory endorsements underpin the industrial development of lycopene.

Rising consumer demand for natural antioxidant raw materials fuels steady expansion of the lycopene market, and industry forecasts predict sustained sound growth over the next decade. Lycopene now boasts increasingly diverse application scenarios and can be found in oil-soluble soft capsule dietary supplements, fortified yogurts, fruit juices and even facial masks. The iterative development of modification technologies including oil-soluble, water-soluble and microencapsulation processes keeps overcoming application limitations and further expands the industrial scope of lycopene.

Disclaimer: The health effects described in this article are derived from cell experiments, animal studies and observational human trials. Lycopene is a food and dietary raw material and cannot replace medicines for the treatment of diseases.

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