Carotenoids modulating activity

Recent observations suggest that carotenoids may modulate the AP-1 activation process. It has been recently reported in mammary tumor cell lines that [3-carotene and its cleavage products were able to decrease the activation of AP-1 (Tibaduiza et al., 2002). Moreover, lycopene was also shown to downregulate AP-1 in mammary cancer cells (Karas et al., 2000). In addition, a pharmacological... 

Other carotenoids, such as canthaxanthin and astaxanthin have been recognized as potent inducers of CYP1A1 and 1A2 in rat liver (Gradelet et al., 1998). The administration of lycopene to rats was shown to induce liver CYP types 1 Al/2, 2B1/2, and 3A in a dose-dependent manner (Breinholt et al., 2000). The observation that these enzymatic activities were induced at very low lycopene plasma levels suggests that modulation of drug metabolising enzymes by carotenoids may be relevant to humans (Breinholt et al., 2000). 

Sharoni, Y., Agraria, R., Amir, H. et al. 2003. Modulation of transcriptional activity by antioxidant carotenoids. Mol Aspects Med 24 371-384. 

Tomato (Solarium lycopersicwn L.) is extensively cultivated worldwide, and its fruits have assumed the status of functional foods as a result of epidemiological evidence of reduced risks of certain types of cancers and cardiovascular diseases [180,181]. They are a reservoir of diverse antioxidant molecules, such as lycopene, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, carotenoids, flavraioids, and phenolics, and may provide a significant part of the total intake of beneficial phytochemicals, as a result of then-high consumption rates. Among carotenoids, lycopene has a strong antioxidant activity and is able to induce cell-to-ceU communications and modulate hormones, immune systems, and other metabolic pathways [182]. 

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