Spectral characterisation of Z-isomers of lycopene formed during heat treatment and solvent effects on the E/Z isomerisation process

The thermal Z-isomerization-induced change in solubility and physical properties of (all-E)-lycopene

The effect of Z-isomerization of (all-E)-lycopene on its solubility in organic solvents and physical properties was investigated. Lycopene samples containing different Z-isomer contents (23.8%, 46.9%, and 75.6% of total lycopene) were prepared from high-purity (all-E)-lycopene by thermal Z-isomerization in dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂). As the Z-isomer content increased, the relative solubility of lycopene significantly improved. Although (all-E)-lycopene barely dissolved in ethanol (0.6 mg/L), the solubilities of lycopene containing 23.8%, 46.9%, and 75.6% Z-isomers were 484.5, 914.7, and 2401.7 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses clearly indicated that (all-E)-lycopene was present in the crystal state, while Z-isomers of lycopene were present in amorphous states. A number of studies have suggested that Z-isomers of lycopene are better absorbed in the human body than the all-E-isomer. This may be due to the change in solubility and physical properties of lycopene by the Z-isomerization.

Isolation and spectral characterization of thermally generated multi-Z-isomers of lycopene and the theoretically preferred pathway to di-Z-isomers

Lycopene has a large number of geometric isomers caused by E/Z isomerization at arbitrary sites within the 11 conjugated double bonds, offering varying characteristics related to features such as antioxidant capacity and bioavailability. However, the geometric structures of only a few lycopene Z-isomers have been thoroughly identified from natural sources. In this study, seven multi-Z-isomers of lycopene, (9Z,13′Z)-, (5Z,13Z,9′Z)-, (9Z,9′Z)-, (5Z,13′Z)-, (5Z,9′Z)-, (5Z,9Z,5′Z)-, and (5Z,9Z)-lycopene, were obtained from tomato samples by thermal isomerization, and then isolated by elaborate chromatography, and fully assigned using proton nuclear magnetic resonance. Moreover, the theoretically preferred pathway from (all-E)-lycopene to di-Z-isomers was examined with a computational approach using a Gaussian program. Fine-tuning of the HPLC separation conditions led to the discovery of novel multi-Z-isomers, and whose formation was supported by advanced theoretical calculations.

Rapid and Efficient Conversion of All-E-astaxanthin to 9Z- and 13Z-Isomers and Assessment of Their Stability and Antioxidant Activities

An optimized isomerization method was developed by heating all-E-astaxanthin in ethyl acetate (70 °C) with I-TiO₂ catalyst, yielding 22.7% and 16.9% of 9Z- and 13Z-astaxanthin, respectively, in 2 h, with 92-95% purity after semipreparative HPLC purification. 13Z-Astaxanthin had higher antioxidant activity than all-E- and 9Z-astaxanthins in oxygen radical absorbing capacity assay for lipophilic compounds, photochemiluminescence, and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays, and 9Z-astaxanthin was higher in DPPH radical-scavenging activity assay and lower in CAA assay. All isomers were relatively stable between pH 2.0 and 11.6, except 13Z- and 9Z-astaxanthins at pH 2.0, suggesting they may be converted after passing the gastric phase in vivo. Metal ions did not significantly (p < 0.05) affect the stability. Results of the current study provides a means for further study into the mechanisms related to in vivo transformation and bioavailability of Z-astaxanthins, and their application in the development of functional foods and nutraceutical products.

Safety assessment of a natural tomato oleoresin containing high amounts of Z-isomers of lycopene prepared with supercritical carbon dioxide

BACKGROUND

Z-isomers of lycopene, which are abundantly present in processed tomato products, are more bioavailable than (all-E)-lycopene found predominantly in raw tomatoes. Despite extensive studies on the bioavailability and biological activities of Z-isomers of lycopene, detailed studies on their safety and toxicology are limited.

RESULTS

The geno-, acute and subacute toxicities of tomato oleoresin that contained high amounts of lycopene Z-isomers (10.9% lycopene with 66.3% Z-isomer content) and had been prepared with supercritical carbon dioxide were investigated. The oleoresin was non-mutagenic in the Ames test with and without metabolic activation (S9 mix). The medial lethal dose (LD₅₀ ) of the oleoresin in rats, as determined by a single-dose oral test, was more than 5000 mg kg body weight^-1 (bw) [361 mg (Z)-lycopene kg bw^-1 ]. In the 4-week repeated-dose oral toxicity test, rats were administered oleoresin at 4500 mg kg^-1 day^-1 [325 mg (Z)-lycopene kg bw^-1 day^-1 ]. There were no clinically significant changes with respect to vital signs, physical examination outcomes and laboratory test values during the test period.

CONCLUSION

Based on our findings and as supported by its long history of consumption, tomato oleoresin that contains high amounts of Z-isomers of lycopene prepared with supercritical carbon dioxide can be considered as safe for human consumption. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Highly efficient trans–cis isomerization of lycopene catalyzed by iodine-doped TiO2nanoparticles

Highly efficienttrans–cisisomerization of lycopene was achieved in the presence of a novel iodine-doped titanium dioxide (I-TiO₂) catalyst.

Photosensitized E/Z isomerization of (all-E)-lycopene aiming at practical applications

Photoisomerization of (all-E)-lycopene to the corresponding Z-isomers was investigated under visible to middle-infrared light irradiation in the presence of several sensitizers, including edible ones. Highly purified (all-E)-lycopene from tomato paste was isomerized to Z-isomers to the extent of 46.4-57.4% after irradiation with the sensitizers for 60 min in acetone, in which a thermodynamically stable isomer of (5Z)-lycopene was predominantly generated, whereas kinetically preferable (9Z)- and (13Z)-lycopenes were dominant without sensitizer. Examination of the time course of photoisomerization demonstrated that the highest isomerization efficiency (80.4%) was attained using erythrosine as the sensitizer under 480-600 nm light irradiation in hexane for 60 min, a protocol that successfully suppressed the degradation of lycopene. (5Z)-Lycopene, reported as a more bioavailable isomer, was again predominantly produced with erythrosine and rose bengal in each solvent.