Biological activity of lycopene metabolites: implications for cancer prevention.
While early studies focused on the potential roles in health and disease of provitamin A carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, research over the past decade has provided a framework for our understanding of the functions of non-provitamin A carotenoids such as lycopene, especially in regards to its association with a reduced risk of a number of chronic diseases, including cancer. Recent data suggests that lycopene metabolites may possess specific biological activities on several important cellular signaling pathways and molecular targets. Carotenoid metabolites may have more important biological roles than their parent compounds in human health and disease. This notion has been reinforced by the observation of both beneficial and detrimental effects of carotenoid metabolites in cancer prevention.
Mein
Jonathan R
JR
Nutrition and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA.
Lian
Fuzhi
F
Wang
Xiang-Dong
XD
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids; D010105:Oxygenases; C500451:carotenoid oxygenase; D000077276:Lycopene