Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.), which are frequently included in the Mediterranean diet and are widely consumed as vegetables, play an important role in nutrition because of their well-established health benefits [1]. Tomatoes are used in many processed food products such as sauces, salads, soups, and pastes [2]. Common nutrients reported to be present in tomatoes are vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, essential amino acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids and phytosterols [3,4,5,6]. These nutrients perform various body functions including constipation prevention, reduction in high blood pressure, stimulation of blood circulation, maintenance of lipid profile and body fluids, detoxification of body toxins and maintaining bone structure as well as strength [1,7,8]. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of nutrients and bioactive compounds, commonly known as secondary metabolites, the concentrations of which are correlated with the prevention of human chronic degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases [9,10,11]. Due to the high concentrations of different natural antioxidant chemicals, such as carotenoids (β-carotenoids and lycopene), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), tocopherol (vitamin E) and bioactive phenolic compounds (quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin and lutein, as well as caffeic, ferulic and chlorogenic acids), tomatoes can help ameliorate many diseases, especially chronic diseases [12,13]. These compounds play beneficial roles in inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) by scavenging free radicals, inhibiting cellular proliferation and damage, inhibiting apoptosis as well as metal chelation, modulation of enzymatic activities, cytokine expression and signal transduction pathways [12,14]. The main carotenoid in tomato is lycopene, which is responsible for its red color. The pharmacological activities of lycopene and other phenolic compounds include anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-allergenic, anti-atherogenic, antithrombotic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, vasodilator and cardioprotective effects [15,16,17,18]. In addition to having good nutritive value and health promoting activities, the polyphenolic compounds and carotenoids also contribute to sensory activities including maintaining good aroma, taste, and texture [19]. Tomato is an important dietary source of both soluble and insoluble dietary fibers, namely cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectins [20]. In general, these fibers are resistant to intestinal digestion in the large intestine and are believed to ameliorate bowel disorders, cancer, diabetes, CVDs, and obesity [21,22]. Important proximate composition parameters for tomatoes include sugar content, pH, energy, acidity and reducing sugar contents [4]. The proximate compositions help in the characterization and identification of tomato nutrients. The combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fats all together contribute to making tomato part of a balanced diet. Phytosterols, which are involved in the prevention of colon cancer and heart disease, are present in tomatoes in lower amounts than that found in other fruits and vegetables [23]. Among the phytosterols, β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol are the main ones [5]. The antioxidant compounds predominately present in tomato consist of several different types of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and phenolic compounds that confer their antioxidant activities by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protecting the cell membrane against lipid peroxidation [24,25].
Nutritional composition of tomato varies based on the tomato cultivar, extraction procedures, analysis methods and environmental conditions. During the processing of tomato products, up to 30% of their original weight are turned into waste, which may still contain some nutritive values [26]. For example, the seeds and the peel are the main waste product of tomato, which are rich in protein, dietary fibers, bioactive compounds and lycopene [27]. The by-products are used as food additives especially in the meat industries [28]. Nevertheless, although the waste products of tomato are a rich source of nutrients, proper research should be undertaken before their consumption. In spite of having health benefits, tomatoes demonstrate some undesired effects on the body when consumed in large amounts or in abnormal body conditions. The adverse effects of tomato intake are associated with renal problems, allergies, arthritis, heartburn, and migraine [1].
Although scattered data are available, there is a lack of updated compiled information on the nutrient composition and the health benefits of tomatoes. Therefore, in this review, we bring together information on all the nutrient compositions of tomato such as proximate composition, minerals, heavy metals, vitamins, fatty acids, amino acids, carotenoids, phytosterols, antioxidant activity and different types of bioactive compounds. Consequently, we discuss the associated health benefits of the bioactive compounds present in tomato in preventing chronic degenerative diseases, such as CVDs, diabetes, and cancer.
Health Benefits of Tomato
The health benefits of tomatoes mainly associated with its rich supply of nutrients and secondary metabolites, including vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, carotenoids, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds. In addition to its high amounts of vitamins A, C, E, K and B-complex [5,37], tomato is also a good source of important minerals as previously stated [3,47]. Additionally, tomato contains some dietary fiber, protein, essential amino acids, and a number of bioactive anti-oxidative organic compounds including lycopene, quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, caffeic acid, rutin, resveratrol, catechin and luteolin, which contribute to the maintenance of good health [44]. Vitamins C and E are natural antioxidants that can prevent degenerative diseases caused by free radicals [120].
Lycopene is a natural antioxidant that can help combat different types of cancer, including prostate, breast, lung, stomach, colorectal, oral, esophageal, pancreatic, bladder, cervical and ovarian cancers [10,17]. Abundant amounts of minerals are responsible for maintenance of body’s physiological functions including blood pressure, blood clotting, nerve transmission, muscle contraction and energy production [56,121], while the vitamins help to maintain the health of the nervous system, facilitate blood cell production and enzymatic function [122].
The consumption of carotenoid-rich tomato has been reported to protect against vitamin A deficiency disorders and other chronic diseases including light-induced eye damage, the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration [123]. In fact, a high dietary intake of carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin) can prevent the risk of age-related macular degeneration, making tomato useful in ameliorating eye diseases [124]. Other important constituents present in tomato are phytosterols, which prevent intestinal cholesterol absorption by displacing it from the micelles, and thus stimulating its excretion, preventing CVDs, and ameliorating different types of cancer including colon, prostate, and breast cancers [1,125,126].
Oxidative stress is the main contributor to the development of chronic diseases in humans. ROS, including superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide, are highly reactive oxidant molecules that are endogenously induced by regular metabolic activity in the body, diet, and secondary lifestyle activities [127,128]. They react with cellular components (DNA, lipids, and proteins) to cause oxidative damage [129]. Antioxidants are super-protective agents that inactivate ROS and prevent oxidative damage [130]. Natural antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, different types of carotenoids and phenolic compounds including quercetin, kaempferol, caffeic acid, naringenin, chlorogenic acid, lutin, ferulic acid, lycopene, resveratrol, catechin and luteolin are present in tomato [6,92]. These bioactive compounds will protect endogenously produced reactive oxidant molecules and prevent oxidative damage. Therefore, they prevent the development of different types of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular, eye, hypertension, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases [1,131,132,133,134].
In summary, the health benefits of tomato are associated with its rich supply of nutrients to the body, such as minerals, vitamins, proteins, essential amino acids, fatty acids, and other antioxidants. The consumption of tomato is associated with the relief of cancer, diabetes, CVDs, eye disease and constipation, with blood pressure reduction, improved blood circulation, improved body fluid balance, cholesterol reduction, detoxification of toxins, reduction in inflammation, prevention of premature aging and improvement of digestive function (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Summary of health benefits of tomato.
Effects of Bioactive Compounds of Tomato on Some Human Degenerative Diseases
Tomato in CVDs
Generally, CVD is a category of disease that affects the blood vessels and the heart [135]. Common predisposing factors include hypertension, gender, age, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, diabetes, and unhealthy lifestyle, such as minimal physical activity, smoking, the consumption of a high fat diet and excessive alcohol [136,137]. The bioactive compounds in tomato not only reduce the risk but also prevent or ameliorate CVDs [138]. The antiplatelet aggregation effects of tomato and tomato products support the prevention of CVD disorders [139]. For example, lycopene can improve endothelial function among patients who suffer from CVD [140]. Lycopene functions as a crucial hypolipidemic and antioxidant agent and inhibits factors that play important prothrombosis and pro-inflammatory roles, and thus improves CVDs [141]. Additionally, it is hypothesized that lycopene can increase LDL degradation and reduce cholesterol synthesis. It has been reported that both the thickness of the intima wall and myocardial infarction (MI) can be minimized by high lycopene intake [142]. As a radical scavenger, lycopene mops up singlet oxygen along with other active free radicals, and thus protects against vascular cell damage, which contributes to CVD [141]. Lycopene also shows antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities by hindering phospholipase C activation, which inhibits the breakdown of phosphoinositol and the formation of thromboxane B2. Subsequently, the mobilization of intracellular calcium, which is beneficial in CVDs, is impeded. In addition, the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) /nitrate formation in the platelets activated by lycopene also constrains platelet aggregation [143].
Quercetin is a potential chelator of metal ions, constraining xanthine oxidase while reducing lipid peroxidation and scavenging free radicals, which ultimately help to reduce the risk of CVD [144,145]. Furthermore, it reduces the levels of oxidized LDL in the plasma, since LDL oxidation is stimulated by macrophages or myeloperoxidase, inhibits the generation of hyperoxide and reduces systolic blood pressure in obese patients [146,147,148]. Quercetin also decreases the expression of endothelin-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), which stimulates the dilation of coronary vessels and improves endothelial function [149]. Another study showed that quercetin regulates the expression of p47phox or neutrophil cytosol factor 1 and therefore reduces the levels of superoxide anion (O2−), as mediated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase), ultimately preventing endothelial dysfunction in hypertension [150].
Caffeic acid, which can increase the plasma level of vitamin E, scavenge free radicals, and reduce oxidative stress, demonstrates its effectiveness in MI [151,152]. It is also reported to be a potential antihypertensive agent as well [153]. Kaempferol effectively reduces oxidative stress, which is effective in CVD. On the other hand, naringenin, which is efficacious against interstitial fibrosis and cardiac hypertrophy, can improve the function of the left ventricle in mice with induced pressure overload. It also downregulates the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), extracellular signal–regulated kinases (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKt) signaling pathways, which may offer some cardioprotective effects [154].
Lutein reduces carotid artery intima-media thickness, especially in patients with subclinical atherosclerosis [155]. Moreover, the use of dietary lutein has been reported to reduce atherosclerotic lesions, especially in combination with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) [156]. Luteolin confers cardioprotective mechanisms against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by increasing pro-apoptotic molecules, Bcl2-associated agonist of cell death (BAD) phosphorylation and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity, which helps to inhibit the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), stimulate the PI3K/AKt as well as myocardial endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathways, upregulate leukemic inhibitory factor (LIF) and anti-apoptotic proteins such as fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) expression and decrease the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, particularly in diabetes [157,158]. Moreover, luteolin inhibits thrombin activity, fibrin polymer formation and thrombosis, which is induced by oxidative stress and binds with thromboxane A2 receptor, which can hinder platelet aggregation, and thus confers some antithrombotic effect [159,160].
Vanillic acid reduces hypertension and infarct size in I/R, improves ventricular function and shows antioxidant mechanisms that can confer some cardioprotective effect [161,162,163]. Chlorogenic acid demonstrates antihypertensive, antiplatelet, antithrombotic and antioxidant activities involving A2A receptor and NF-κB and the adenylate cyclase/cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (adenylatecyclase/cAMP/PKA) pathways, which can improve CVDs [164,165,166]. On the other hand, ferulic acid improves the structure as well as the function of blood vessels and the heart [167]. Additionally, p-coumaric acid exhibits a preventive role in cardiac hypertrophy and MI by stimulating anti-hypertrophic and radical scavenging activities that constrain lysosomal dysfunction and ameliorate the levels of lysosomal enzymes [168,169].
On the other hand, chrysin has an anti-atherogenic activity and can ameliorate MI by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-ɣ) and inhibiting oxidative stress as well as inflammation, mediated by the advance glycation end product [170,171]. Catechin regulates lipid and blood lipid metabolism, reduces, and regulates blood pressure, protects vascular endothelial cells, reduces the cell proliferation of vascular smooth muscle, suppresses platelet adhesion, inhibits thrombogenesis and increases vascular integrity, thereby reducing the risk for CVDs [172,173]. Epicatechin can decrease platelet-induced endothelial activation along with catechin [174]. Cinnamic acid ameliorates myocardial ischemia due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties [175]. On the other hand, sinapic acid has membrane-stabilizing and free radical scavenging properties by which it can inhibit fibrosis and lysosomal dysfunction in heart diseases [176,177]. The protective effects of resveratrol occur by the upregulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin (SITR1) and the activation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes against cardiovascular complications. It also confers some lipid-reducing, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial in CVDs [178].
Tomato in Diabetes
Some bioactive compounds present in tomato are effective in diabetes (Figure 2). For instance, lycopene has been reported to exert hypoglycemic effects by increasing serum insulin levels and lowering glucose levels in diabetic animals as induced by streptozotocin (STZ) [179,180]. Lycopene reduces angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity, the level of which can indicate diabetes or complications related to diabetes [181]. In addition, it has been reported to improve renal function and exhibit a defensive effect against diabetic nephropathy by regulating connecting tissue growth factor and p-Akt, reducing malondialdehyde levels and enhancing antioxidant activities [182]. It has also been reported that oocyte maturation, follicular growth and protection of ovaries are promoted by lycopene in diabetic conditions [183].
Quercetin stimulates glucose uptake by regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) insulin-dependent mechanisms, improving renal function, inhibiting the overexpression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), hindering polyol accumulation as well as blocking aldose reductase, and thus reducing joint pain, irritation, and numbness, which are common symptoms observed in diabetes [184]. Quercetin elevates transmembrane potential and membrane fluidity and confers anti-inflammatory activity on immune and endothelial cells, which is beneficial especially in the late stage of diabetes [185]. Due to its antiplatelet activity, quercetin delays thrombus formation and plays a crucial role as an antioxidant by decreasing the generation of lipid hydroperoxides and increasing the activity of glutathione peroxidase in diabetes [186,187]. It also regulates NF-κB signaling and the mitochondrial pathway, significantly preventing the death of β cells [188].
On the other hand, kaempferol minimizes α-glucosidase activity, increases antioxidant activity, reduces lipid peroxidation level, protects β cell function and improves insulin sensitivity of the periphery, therefore exhibiting antidiabetic properties [189,190,191]. Kaempferol also downregulates I kappa B kinase (IKK), and thus inhibits the NF-κB pathway, which reduces inflammatory lesions in hepatic cells and improves insulin signaling [192]. Kaempferol also restores membrane-bound ATPase, which is normally affected in diabetes [193].
Naringenin, which has the potential to diminish nephropathy and improve endothelial complications along with lipid and glucose metabolisms in diabetes, shows antifibrotic, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities [194,195]. Interestingly, naringenin also inhibits increased cholinesterase (ChE) activity, which contributes to memory dysfunction [196]. Therefore, it is another important component present in tomato.
Caffeic acid has been reported to confer some anti-inflammatory and antiglycemic activities in diabetic kidney disease [197]. Chlorogenic acid reduces plasma glucose levels in fasting conditions and during late diabetes, where it lowers glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Additionally, by modulating the signaling pathway of the adiponectin receptor, chlorogenic acid improves diabetic kidney fibrosis [198]. It also prevents neurological complications and retinopathy accelerated by diabetes by improving memory, inhibiting TBARS production, reducing anxiety and reducing vascular hyperpermeability [199,200].
In pregnant women affected by gestational diabetes, lutein intake has been reported to reduce neonatal oxidative stress during birth [201]. Moreover, lutein, which is another important component present in tomato, prevents cataract progression and preserves the composition of free fatty acids, which is abnormal in diabetic conditions [202,203]. Luteolin can inhibit α-glucosidase action and improve insulin resistance [204,205], which is important in both diabetic encephalopathy and neuropathy [206,207].
Vanillic acid reduces blood pressure, plasma glucose and insulin by activating antioxidants, thereby reducing oxidative stress [208]. Ferulic acid reduces oxidative stress, and thus prevents testicular damage and downregulates both apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in diabetes [209,210]. Another important substance is p-coumaric acid, which exerts glucose-lowering activity by activating pancreatic glucose transporter 2 (GLUT 2), regulating lipid and glucose metabolisms and exhibiting some antidiabetic effects [211]. Moreover, p-coumaric acid shows anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities that counter hippocampal neurodegeneration in diabetes [212].
Cinnamic acid and some of its derivatives have the potential to be applied in the treatment of diabetes because of their many useful properties including (1) increased glucose uptake, adiponectin secretion, insulin secretion and hepatic glycolysis; (2) improved functionality of pancreatic β cells; (3) reduced adipogenesis; (4) improved hepatic gluconeogenesis, protein glycation, insulin fibrillation and intestinal glucose absorption and (5) decreased activity of certain enzymes, including α-glucosidase, dipeptidyl peptidase-4, pancreatic α-amylase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B [213].
Sinapic acid improves hyperglycemia and maximizes glucose utilization by regulating the signals of phospholipase C (PLC) and protein kinase C (PKC) in diabetes [214]. Catechin activates endothelial phosphoinositide (PI3K) signaling and consequently activates eNOS, resulting in the generation of nitrous oxide against vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED) in diabetes. In cases of vascular endothelial abnormalities (VEA), catechin confers a protective effect by reducing high glucose, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress [215]. In addition, catechin protects against diabetic nephropathy by constraining the formation of advanced glycated end products and blocking inflammatory signaling pathways since catechin can trap the metabolite methylglyoxal [216].
Epicatechin, another important constituent of tomato, reduces insulin resistance, increases insulin sensitivity, and reduces oxidative stress [217]. It also improves pancreatic insulitis and islet mass as well as muscle function [218,219]. Chrysin hinders the activity of α-glucosidase, reduces oxidative stress, and generates moderate amounts of nitric oxide to prevent diabetes-related complications [220,221]. In addition to its antioxidant properties, chrysin has anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to regulate the apoptotic cascade by which it improves diabetic-associated cognitive deficits (DACD) and diabetic nephropathy [222,223]. Resveratrol is another important component present in tomato. In addition to having a significant effect on different signaling and metabolic pathways that can improve diabetes, it enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and reduces mitochondrial damage, oxidative damage, inflammation, lipid accumulation, liver steatosis and improves the action of insulin [224].
Tomato against Cancer
Many recent studies have suggested that regular intake of fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants prevents the progression of cancer cells [14,225]. There are many important bioactive phytochemicals present in fruits and vegetables that are responsible for cancer prevention. For example, bioactive phytochemicals can prevent cancer via various mechanisms including (1) inhibition of cancer cell proliferation [226], (2) prevention of oxidative stress via antioxidant effects [227], (3) alteration of cancer cell signaling pathways [228,229], (4) modification of enzymatic activity [230], (5) inhibition of oxidative DNA damage [231], (6) increasing the expression of phase II enzymes [232], and (7) inducing apoptosis of cancer cells [233,234] (Figure 2).
Many epidemiological studies have suggested that dietary intake of tomato can ameliorate cancer [13,70]. In fact, the excessive consumption of tomato is reported to confer some preventive effects against gastrointestinal tract cancer when compared to a control [235]. A research conducted by Colditz et al. confirmed that the intake of tomato and other types of vegetables is important for cancer prevention. In their research, from the 1271 elderly individuals investigated, 42 cancer patients died. However, those with higher intakes of tomato had a better prognosis [236]. Studies from different countries have reported that colon cancer is inversely correlated with a high tomato consumption [237,238]. Moreover, a case-control study from China and Italy indicated that approximately 60% of colon and rectal cancer patients showed some improvements following the intake of high amounts of tomato [235,239,240].
Lycopene, a major carotenoid present in tomato, has antioxidant properties and can prevent prostate cancer by blocking ROS generation, scavenging free radicals, and protecting both cell membrane and DNA from oxidative damage [10,17,241]. In another study, approximately 83% of prostate cancer was ameliorated in patients who received the highest amount of lycopene (0.40 µm/L) in comparison with lower amounts (0.18 µm/L) [242]. Siler et al. investigated the protective effects of lycopene and vitamin E (two important components present in tomatoes) on the growth of prostate tumors in a Dunning MAT-LyLu rat model [243], where rapidly growing tumor cells were injected into the ventral prostate of the experimental rats. Both lycopene- and vitamin E-treated experimental rats showed a significant reduction in tumor size and necrosis when compared to untreated rats. Moreover, molecular analysis of the tumor tissues indicated that vitamin E reduces androgen signaling, while lycopene downregulates the expression of 5-α reductase 1, interleukin 6 and insulin-like growth factor-1.
Quercetin confers both antioxidant and anticancer properties that prevent the proliferation of prostate cancer cells by increasing the levels of p21, Bax and caspase-3, and thus preventing the expression of the cell cycle regulator cdc2/cdk-1, cyclin B1, phosphorylated pRB and apoptosis markers Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL [244]. In another study, quercetin showed anticancer properties by inhibiting the P13k-Akt/PKB pathway [245]. Quercetin also protects against colon cancer by inhibiting β-catenin/Tcf signaling in SW480 colon cancer cell lines and reducing β-catenin/Tcf transcription activity [246]. Luteolin, which is also present in tomato, is an important polyphenol that exhibits anticancer properties by inhibiting rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and DNA synthesis as induced by platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) via blockage of the phosphorylation of PDGF-BB receptor [247]. Apigenin, another important flavonoid in tomato, also has some anticancer properties since it inhibits pancreatic cancer cell proliferation by arresting the G2/M cell cycle, and thus decreases the concentration of cyclin A, cyclin B and the phosphorylated forms of cdc2 as well as cdc25 [248].
Limitations and Future Prospects
The nutritional composition of tomato depends on the maturation of fruits, ripening time, geographical location, tomato variety, freshness and whether they are tomato-based food products. The nutritional composition will also differ depending on the conditions of sample preparation, collection, and tomato parts. Nevertheless, to date, there are limited data on the nutritional contents of tomato peel and pulp for a good comparison to be made. Therefore, in this review, only the nutritional composition of fresh matured tomatoes is discussed. Further study needs to investigate the bioactive compounds present and investigate their impact on human health.
Additionally, although some research works have been published on tomato processing by-products containing many bioactive nutrients including lycopene, beta-carotene, amino acids, proteins, lipids, and dietary fibers [249,250], the bioavailability, safety, and pharmacological toxicity have not been investigated. Another study Salehi et al. demonstrated that tomato consumption, in addition to giving some beneficial effects, is also associated with some health risks including renal problems, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migration, allergy, body aches, arthritis, and urinary problems [1]. Therefore, research should also focus on the possible health risks that may arise due to tomato consumption and the amount consumed that leads to detrimental effects. Finally, there is a need to conduct randomized clinical trials that can assess the effects of long-term tomato consumption on its various health benefits.
Conclusions
Tomatoes are vegetables/fruits that contain significant amounts of dietary nutrients, including dietary fiber, reducing sugars, vitamins, minerals, protein, essential fatty acids, phytosterols and carotenoids. The nutritive elements play an important role in bodily function and are beneficial in ameliorating chronic diseases. Tomatoes are also rich with health promoting bioactive phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds including lycopene, quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, caffeic acid and lutein. The bioactive constituents show antioxidant, antiproliferative, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and other health-promoting activities, indicating the vast potential of tomato in preventing and/or ameliorating several chronic degenerative diseases. Lycopene and β-carotene are two main active ingredients in tomato that have strong antioxidant properties, which are linked with many health benefits, including cancer and heart diseases. They also participate in preventing the development of cataracts. Additionally, the water content and dietary fibers help the body in terms of hydration, bowel movements, reducing constipation, improving obesity through weight loss, and preventing colon cancer. All immune stimulating activities of tomatoes make them active ingredients for the development of functional foods. Thus, tomato is an excellent source of dietary nutrients and is useful in disease prevention.
Read all at: Ali, M.Y.; Sina, A.A.I.; Khandker, S.S.; Neesa, L.; Tanvir, E.M.; Kabir, A.; Khalil, M.I.; Gan, S.H. Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Compounds in Tomatoes and Their Impact on Human Health and Disease: A Review. Foods 2021, 10, 45. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods1001004