Evaluation of the effect of dietary lycopene, the main carotenoid in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), on the in vivo renal reducing ability by a radiofrequency electron paramagnetic resonance method.

Although it has been reported that dietary lycopene, the main carotenoid in tomato, improved drug-induced nephropathy, there are no reports on the effect of orally administered lycopene on the in vivo renal reducing (i.e., antioxidant) ability. The radiofrequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method is a unique technique by which the in vivo reducing ability of an experimental animal can be studied. In this study, the in vivo changes in the renal reducing ability of rats orally administered lycopene were investigated using a 700 MHz EPR spectrometer equipped with a surface-coil-type resonator. Rats were fed either a control diet or a diet containing lycopene. After 2 weeks, in vivo EPR measurements were conducted. The renal reducing ability of lycopene-treated rats was significantly greater than that of the control. This is the first verification of in vivo antioxidant enhancement via dietary lycopene administration.