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Review
. 2021 Jun 25;26(13):3888.
doi: 10.3390/molecules26133888.

New Insights into Molecular Mechanism behind Anti-Cancer Activities of Lycopene

Boon-Peng Puah  1 , Juriyati Jalil  1 , Ali Attiq  2 , Yusof Kamisah  3
Affiliations
Review

New Insights into Molecular Mechanism behind Anti-Cancer Activities of Lycopene

Boon-Peng Puah et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Lycopene is a well-known compound found commonly in tomatoes which brings wide range of health benefits against cardiovascular diseases and cancers. From an anti-cancer perspective, lycopene is often associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer and people often look for it as a dietary supplement which may help to prevent cancer. Previous scientific evidence exhibited that the anti-cancer activity of lycopene relies on its ability to suppress oncogene expressions and induce proapoptotic pathways. To further explore the real potential of lycopene in cancer prevention, this review discusses the new insights and perspectives on the anti-cancer activities of lycopene which could help to drive new direction for research. The relationship between inflammation and cancer is being highlighted, whereby lycopene suppresses cancer via resolution of inflammation are also discussed herein. The immune system was found to be a part of the anti-cancer system of lycopene as it modulates immune cells to suppress tumor growth and progression. Lycopene, which is under the family of carotenoids, was found to play special role in suppressing lung cancer.

Keywords: cancer; immune system; inflammation; lycopene; tomatoes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical structure of lycopene and its metabolites with reported anti-cancer property. (a) Lycopene, (b) Apo-8′-lycopenal, (c) Apo-10′-lycopenoic acid.
Figure 2
Figure 2
New Insights into Molecular Mechanism behind Anti-cancer Activity of Lycopene.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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