Medicina Tradicional e Naturopatia Clínica

Abstrato

Lycopene Compounds in Human Health and Diet with Biological Activities

Usman Mir Khan, Fariha Khan and Zeliha Selamoglu

Herbs and plant extracts have been used for the prevention and treatment of human diseases in many countries for medical purposes. Results of the latest studies show the importance of natural antioxidants in human health. By developing varying types of antioxidants, plants have developed protection systems against the damages of the active oxygen forms caused by several stresses. By this means, with the help of antioxidant enzymes, radical scavenging compounds such as caratenoids, ascorbic acid and the other synthesized components, plants repair their cells and genetic materials. An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. They do this by being oxidized themselves, so antioxidants are often reducing agents such as thiols, caratenoids, ascorbic acid, or polyphenols. Consequently, recently researchers have focused on the most powerful plants and herbal extracts as well as determining their importance on human and environmental health.