Lycopene

Lycopene (CAS 502-65-8, C40H56, molecular weight 536.87) is the acyclic tetraterpene carotenoid that gives ripe tomato its red colour. Its eleven conjugated double bonds account for both the deep red hue and the electron-rich structure that makes it one of the more efficient singlet-oxygen quenchers among the dietary carotenoids. Unlike beta-carotene it carries no beta-ionone ring, so it has no provitamin A activity at all; it is specified as a carotenoid antioxidant and as the food colour E160d / INS 160d, never as a vitamin precursor. The pure crystal is a deep red solid melting at about 177 degrees C, practically insoluble in water, methanol and ethanol, and soluble in chloroform, hexane, tetrahydrofuran and vegetable oils. Almost all commercial lycopene reaching supplement and food buyers is tomato-derived. In the United States, 21 CFR 73.585 defines tomato lycopene extract as a red to dark brown viscous oleoresin obtained from the pulp of fresh edible tomato varieties by ethyl acetate extraction followed by evaporation of the solvent, containing not less than 5.5 per cent lycopene; tomato lycopene concentrate is the powder made from that extract by removing most of the tomato lipids, containing not less than 60 per cent lycopene. Thovek supplies the oleoresin at 5, 6 and 10 per cent lycopene in tomato or sunflower oil for softgels and oil systems, and 5 and 10 per cent cold-water-dispersible beadlets in which micronised lycopene is emulsified into a modified food starch or gelatin matrix, spray dried, starch coated and protected with dl-alpha-tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate. High-purity crystalline lycopene from Blakeslea trispora fermentation or by synthesis is available where a single defined input is required. A Tomato Extract Containing Lycopene Reference Standard is listed by USP for assay work, and every Thovek batch is released against HPLC assay of total and all-trans lycopene. Lycopene oxidises readily once out of its plant matrix, so delivery form and packing do most of the stability work: oleoresin and beadlet containers are filled under nitrogen in light-tight packaging and carry 24 months shelf life unopened. Origin and allergen status are declared on every consignment. The material is tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) derived with no milk, egg, fish, crustacean, gluten or tree-nut input; oleoresin and modified-starch beadlets are vegan and vegetarian, while gelatin-matrix beadlets are bovine or fish gelatin and must be specified at order stage. Buyers formulating nightshade-free lines, or lines with a restriction on tocopherol source, should say so at enquiry, since the dl-alpha-tocopherol used as beadlet antioxidant can be soy-derived. Each batch ships with a Certificate of Analysis covering identity, assay, isomer distribution, residual ethyl acetate, heavy metals and microbiology, plus MSDS, Certificate of Origin and allergen, GMO, BSE/TSE and halal/kosher statements.