Lycopene Inhibits the Parameters Associated with Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a condition that affects the organelles in the generated energy for the cell.

More precisely, mitochondria perform cellular respiration, by taking nutrients from the cell, breaking it down, and turning it into energy.


Mitochondria are the cells that convert the food molecules into the energy in the body. Mitochondria produce 90 percent of the energy for the body function.

Furthermore, mitochondrial also plays a critical role to induce the older or damaged cells to release cytochrome C, which activates enzymes involved in cell apoptosis.

Moreover, mitochondria also play an essential role in calcium absorption and calcium release that regulates cellular metabolism, steroid synthesis, and hormone signalings.

The genetic proposition that causes mitochondrial dysfunction has been found to alter the process of mitochondria in converting oxygen and food to energy in some people.


Acquired mitochondrial dysfunction has been found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Most common symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction include poor growth, muscle weakness, muscle pain, low muscle tone, exercise intolerance, vision and/or hearing problems
learning disabilities, delays in development, mental retardation depending on the location of the infected cells.


Lycopene is a phytochemical in the class of carotenoid, a natural pigment with no vitamin A activity found abundantly in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons, and papayas,

Tomatoes provide about 80% of the lycopene in the world diet. In plants, lycopene protects the host against excessive photodamage and performs various functions in photosynthesis.

With an aim to find a natural compound for the protection of mitochondrial function, researchers examined the effect of lycopene on preventing mitochondrial dysfunction during the d Galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (d-GalN/LPS)-induced fulminant hepatic failure (FHF).

Based on the tested analysis, administration of d-GalN/LPS (300 mg and 30 μg/kg body weight, respectively) to the experimental rats showed a significant effect on several disturbances in mitochondrial function.

In other words, d-GalN/LPS administration not only increased the levels of lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxidation but also decreased the levels of mitochondrial antioxidants, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that release stored energy through the oxidation, and electron transport chain enzymes associated with cellular detoxification and the cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that provides energy to drive many processes in living cells,.

However, lycopene (10 mg/kg body weight for 6 days) pretreatment showed strong activity in attenuating the lipid peroxidation and prohibiting the excessive synthesis of hydrogen peroxide.

Furthermore, lycopene also inhibited the GalN/LPS-induced impairment in ATP production. Parameters associated with reduced mitochondrial function were effectively prevented by the lycopene administration.

More precisely, the mitochondrial protection of lycopene was mainly attributed to the strong antioxidant potential of its phytonutrient by preventing lipid peroxidation in the mitochondrial membrane.

Based on the results researchers said, "The carotenoid lycopene combatted oxidative stress, scavenged free radicals, prevented ROS generation, and inhibited the toxic effects of d-GalN/LPS during FHF".


Taken altogether, lycopene found in tomato may be considered supplements for the prevention and treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction, pending on the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Intake of lycopene in the form of supplements should be taken with extreme care to prevent overdose acute liver toxicity.

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Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Lycopene Prevents Mitochondrial Dysfunction during d-Galactosamine/Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Fulminant Hepatic Failure in Albino Rats by Sheriff SA1, Shaik Ibrahim S2, Devaki T1, Chakraborty S3, Agarwal S4, Pérez-Sánchez H. (PubMed)
(2) Lycopene induces apoptosis in Candida albicans through reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction by Choi H1, Lee DG. (PubMed)