Tomato’s health benefits and the preservation methods (Ⅰ)

Tomatoes are the second most produced and consumed vegetable crop after potatoes, with an annual global output of 100 million tons.


Tomatoes are rich in carotenoids, such as lycopene and β-carotene, which are effective singlet oxygen quenchers and peroxy free radical scavengers. They can also detoxify free radicals that affect DNA generated during normal metabolism and are related to the formation of cancer.


Tomatoes are considered to be a rich source of many nutrients and antioxidants, such as lycopene, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, flavonoids, phenolic acids, minerals and fiber, and are considered to be one of the main sources of lycopene. In recent years, people have gradually noticed that regular consumption of foods rich in lycopene is related to the prevention of chronic cardiovascular diseases, age-related macular diseases and several cancers. These biologically active substances are also responsible for strengthening the immune system and supporting the normal functioning of the reproductive system. Lycopene is considered to be one of the most effective antioxidants in carotenoids. Therefore, the main purpose of incorporating these pigments into food is to color and impart functional properties, thereby bringing more creativity in food design.


Due to the high content of phytochemicals, tomatoes have extraordinary medicinal value. These phytochemicals have various health-promoting properties, such as preventing cancer, oxidative damage to cells, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cataracts, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

References

Carotenoids and lycopene content in fresh and dried tomato fruits and tomato juice. A. Mendelová, M. Fikselová, Ľ. Mendel. 2013
Evaluation of the chemical composition and colour in long-life tomatoes dehydrated by combined drying methods. A.Jorge, D.M. Almeida,etc. 2014
Drying kinetics of tomato slices in vacuum assisted solar and open sun drying methods P. Rajkumar, S. Kulanthaisami,etc. 2007
Effect of drying temperatures and storage on chemical and bioactive attributes of dried tomato and sweet pepper. Ramandeep Kaur,Kamaljit Kaur,etc.2019
Ultrasound assisted extraction of lycopene from tomato processing wastes. S. Kumcuoglu, T. Yilmaz, S. Tavman
Microencapsulation by spray drying of a lycopene-rich tomato concentrate: characterization and stability. A.K. Singh, N. Sharma,ect. 2017