Evaluation of lipophilic antioxidant capacity and lycopene content in Brazilian tomatoes

Abstract

This work aims at the determination of lipophilic antioxidant capacity (LAC) and total lycopene content of several Brazilian tomato cultivars, one of them (BRS Zamir) being a high-lycopene sample type developed by EMBRAPA. The BRS Zamir, Honey Grape and Holandês cultivars showed the highest LAC/lycopene values while the Sweet Cherry varietiy gave the lowest. The BRS cultivar possesses a lycopene amount which is superior regarding many tomato types, but lower in relation to other high-lycopene tomatoes.