ABSTRACT
Lycopene is best known as the main carotenoid from the red tomato fruit (Lycopersicum esculentum), but it also found in some other fruits. The proportion of different isomeric forms of lycopene in foods and foodstuffs varies. Lycopene possesses a simple hydrocarbon structure characterized by its 11 conjugated double bonds as a polyene chain. As a simple hydrocarbon, lycopene is highly hydrophobic and as a result orientates itself deep within the lipophilic core of lipid bilayers. The structure of lycopene with its conjugated backbone means that, under appropriate conditions, it can be a highly effective antioxidant. The extended double bond chain that forms the chromophore of lycopene means that it is prone to processes such as isomerization during food preparation, digestion, or as a result of oxidative attack. The separation and isolation of lycopene and its geometric isomers by high-performance liquid chromatography is a routine procedure that typically utilizes a C30 reversed-phase column as the stationary phase.
