Lycopene (1999)
Abstract
Lycopene is a normal constituent of the human diet and epidemiological studies suggest that it may have a protective effect against various cancers. It had a low acute oral toxicity in mice. Studies involving repeated oral administration did not identify any sites of toxic attack in rats or mice; in a dog, there was accumulation of lycopene and vitamin A in the liver, and excess vitamin A in the kidneys. Skin pigmentation and coloured fatty deposits in the liver were seen in a person who ingested high dietary levels of lycopene daily over a period of years; bile excretion by the liver was depressed. No clear reproductive effects were revealed in a limited oral study in rats. There was no evidence of chromosome or DNA damage in the white blood cells of eight individuals given multiple oral doses, in the bone marrow cells of two mice given a single oral dose, or in human cells treated in culture. Lycopene was not mutagenic in limited Ames bacterial assays.
Toxicity Profiles are comprehensive, yet concise, monographs on the hazard potential of individual chemicals. They are written by scientists specially trained in the evaluation of toxicity data and are prepared principally from primary information sources. To see the full list of nearly 500 Toxicity Profiles currently available, please click here. Profiles can be obtained by contacting our help desk (e-mail document@bibratoxadvice.co.uk) or by completing the enquiry form on the Contact Us page.
Copyright © 1999 BIBRA Information Services Ltd