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Title: LYCOPENE, AN ANTIOXIDANT FOR HUMAN HEALTH, VARIES WITH WATERMELON CULTIVAR

Author
item Collins, Julie
item Perkins Veazie, Penelope

Submitted to: Hortscience Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/2000
Publication Date: 7/24/2000
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Lycopene is a pigment that imparts the bright red color to tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, and guava. Recent studies have reported that dietary intake of lycopene is associated with reductions in cancers of the prostate, breast, lung, and uterus (Gerster, 1997). The anti-cancer properties of lycopene appear to be due to its effectiveness as an antioxidant. Most of the lycopene research studies have evaluated tomato products or concentrated lycopene supplements. According to the USDA Carotenoid Data Base (1998), watermelon contains about 60% more lycopene than fresh tomatoes. However, little research has been conducted with watermelon to determine if different cultivars vary in lycopene content. This study was conducted to determine the lycopene content in eleven cultivars of watermelon. Lycopene was extracted from melon heart tissue using established methods and was measured spectrophotometrically at 503 nm m(Sadler et. al., 1990). Percent soluble solids concentration was also determined from the melons to establish quality and maturity. All watermelon cultivars evaluated were considered mature and marketable based upon percent soluble solids concentrations. Lycopene concentration varied among the watermelon cultivars from 40 to 73 ug/g. Watermelon is a very good source of lycopene and some cultivars have higher concentrations than others. More research is ongoing to determine the antioxidant potential of lycopene in watermelon.

Technical Abstract: Lycopene is a pigment that imparts the bright red color to tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, and guava. Recent studies have reported that dietary intake of lycopene is associated with reductions in cancers of the prostate, breast, lung, and uterus (Gerster, 1997). The anti-cancer properties of lycopene appear to be due to its effectiveness as an antioxidant. Most of the lycopene research studies have evaluated tomato products or concentrated lycopene supplements. According to the USDA Carotenoid Data Base (1998), watermelon contains about 60% more lycopene than fresh tomatoes. However, little research has been conducted with watermelon to determine if different cultivars vary in lycopene content. This study was conducted to determine the lycopene content in eleven cultivars of watermelon. Lycopene was extracted from melon heart tissue using established methods and was measured spectrophotometrically at 503 nm m(Sadler et. al., 1990). Percent soluble solids concentration was also determined from the melons to establish quality and maturity. All watermelon cultivars evaluated were considered mature and marketable based upon percent soluble solids concentrations. Lycopene concentration varied among the watermelon cultivars from 40 to 73 ug/g. Watermelon is a very good source of lycopene and some cultivars have higher concentrations than others. More research is ongoing to determine the antioxidant potential of lycopene in watermelon.