Carotenoid contents in tomatoes (1):

• Lycopene: 82%.
• Beta carotene: 12%.
• Lutein: 6%
• Alpha carotene : 0%
• Cryptoxanthin: 0%
• Neoxanthin and violaxanthin: 0%
• Zeaxanthin: 0%

In this carotenoid study, a list of fruits and vegetables and the percentages they contain (1).

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(1)  Sommerburg O, Keunen JE, Bird AC, van Kuijk FJ. Fruits and vegetables that are sources for lutein and zeaxanthin: the macular pigment in human eyes. Br J Ophthalmol. 1998 Aug;82(8):907-10. doi: 10.1136/bjo.82.8.907. .

Tomato pulp is obtained by industrial process. Generally are needed 5 kg. of tomatoes in order to obtain 1 kg. of tomato pulp. The pulp is brought to boiling point at about 80° C and put into bottles or cans which, in turn, are treated with a pasteurization process for about 1 hour.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most popular vegetables in the world with its 150 million tons produced in 2020.

In first place for production is China, followed by the United States, Turkey and Mexico.

Joseph Campbell produced the first tomato soup in 1897.

The first tomato recipe is attributed to Maria Parloa in her 1872 book Appledore Cook.

The tomato is rich in vitamins A and C and lycopene , the pigment that turns it red and is being studied for the prevention of many types of cancer, as it has antioxidant properties.

It is referred to by many studies as a prevention for prostate cancer (1).

Tomato varieties are many, including: Solanum arcanum, Solanum cheesmaniae, Solanum chilense, Solanum chmielewskii, Solanum corneliomuelleri, Solanum galapagense, Solanum habrochaites, Solanum huaylasense, Solanum neorickii, Solanum pennelli, Solanum perivianum, Solanum pimpinellifolium

Carotenoid content in tomato

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Salem S, Salahi M, Mohseni M, Ahmadi H, Mehrsai A, Jahani Y, Pourmand G. Major dietary factors and prostate cancer risk: a prospective multicenter case-control study. Nutr Cancer. 2011;63(1):21-7. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2010.516875. PMID: 21161822.

Zhou XF, Ding ZS, Liu NB. Allium vegetables and risk of prostate cancer: evidence from 132,192 subjects. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2013;14(7):4131-4. doi: 10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.7.4131.