Lycopene and Antioxidant Strategies in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Lycopene, a red pigment abundant in tomatoes and other fruits, has emerged as a promising neuroprotective agent owing to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, oxidative stress and the resulting damage to lipids, proteins and nucleic acids contribute to neuronal dysfunction and cell death. Lycopene exerts its effects by scavenging reactive oxygen species, modulating cell-survival signalling pathways and preserving mitochondrial integrity. Beyond lycopene, a range of antioxidant strategies—including enzymatic antioxidants, dietary carotenoids, polyphenols and novel drug-delivery systems—seek to restore redox homeostasis in the brain. Advances in formulation technologies, such as microemulsions and nanoparticle-mediated delivery, have improved the bioavailability of lipophilic antioxidants and their penetration across the blood–brain barrier. Emerging evidence also supports a role for antioxidants in promoting neurogenesis and attenuating neuroinflammation. Collectively, these approaches underscore the potential of combining dietary interventions, targeted molecular therapies and optimized delivery platforms to slow or prevent the progression of neurodegenerative processes on a global scale.

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Lycopene and Antioxidant Strategies in Neurodegenerative Disorders publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in lycopene and antioxidant strategies in neurodegenerative disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen that can damage cellular components when present in excess.

Apoptosis: Programmed cell death involving a cascade of molecular events that lead to controlled cellular dismantling.

PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway: A cell-survival signalling cascade where activation of PI3K and Akt leads to nuclear translocation of Nrf2, promoting antioxidant gene expression.

Wnt/β-catenin pathway: A signalling mechanism that regulates gene transcription essential for cell proliferation, differentiation and neurogenesis.

Microemulsion: A thermodynamically stable, isotropic mixture of oil, water and surfactant that enhances solubility and bioavailability of lipophilic compounds.

References

1. Inhibitory Effect of Lycopene on Amyloid-β-Induced Apoptosis in Neuronal Cells. Nutrients (2017).
2. Lycopene alleviates oxidative stress via the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2pathway in a cell model of Alzheimer’s disease. PeerJ (2020).
3. Lycopene‐Loaded Microemulsion Regulates Neurogenesis in Rats with Aβ‐Induced Alzheimer’s Disease Rats Based on the Wnt/β‐catenin Pathway. Neural Plasticity (2021).
4. Antioxidant Therapy in Oxidative Stress-Induced Neurodegenerative Diseases: Role of Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems in Clinical Translation. Antioxidants (2022).
5. The Role of Dietary Antioxidants in the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Their Impact on Cerebral Oxidoreductive Balance. Nutrients (2020).