Abstract

Lycopene is a carotenoid that has been shown to have antioxidant and protective effect for health. Numerous studies prove that it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and some types of cancer. The difficulties in recommending there are: that there is a great variability in the reported amounts of the different source foods, the different units of measurement used and that a Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) has not been established, so the objective of this work was to establish a model with rations of foods rich in lycopene in home measures to include there in the usual diet. The carotenoid compounds present in the source food samples were extracted. Carotenoids were separated and purified by thin layer chromatography using silica gel and light petroleum ether plates. By means of UV-visible spectrophotometry, the concentrations of lycopene contained in the carotenoids were determined, based on the spectrum of the lycopene standard and the amount of lycopene in 100gr was determined of food. Fresh and industrialized foods of specific commercial brand were used, finding greater lycopene content in the industrialized ones: tomato juice, ketchup sauce and tomato puree. The amounts were determined by ration, in homemade measures and trademark for easy inclusion in the usual diet. It is proposed to consume 50mg of lycopene per day to obtain its protective effects and include two examples of menu that integrate the rations of foods rich in lycopene.

Keywords: Lycopene; Antioxidants; Carotenoids; Tomato; Food rations; Cardiovascular diseases; Cancer prevention; Tomato juice; Ketchup sauce; Tomato puree

Abbreviations: ERO: Reactive Oxygen Species; 2(Nrf2): Erythroid Nuclear Factor; PSA: Prostate Specific Antigen; MDA: Malondialdehyde; SCI: Spinal Cord Injuries; IDR: Recommended Daily Intake; ADI: Allowable Daily Intake; NTOE: Natural Tomato Oleoresin Extract; FIQ: Faculty of Chemical Engineering; UADY: Autonomous University of Yucatán; NOM: Official Mexican Standard; Profeco: Federal Consumer Attorney’s Office; UV-vis: Ultraviolet in visible Ranges; SAME: Mexican Equivalent Food System; EFSA: European Food Safety Authority; GR: Reactive Grade; ORAC: Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity