Lycopene

A summary of the most common chemical descriptors (InChI Key and SMILES codes) for Lycopene are summarized together with 3D and 2D structures and relevant physico-chemical properties.

What is the Lycopene?

The molecule Lycopene presents a molecular formula of C₄₀H₅₆ and its IUPAC name is (6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E,20E,22E,24E,26E)-2,6,10,14,19,23,27,31-octamethyldotriaconta-2,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,30-tridecaene.

Lycopene is a naturally occurring molecule found in a variety of plants, including tomatoes, watermelons, and pink grapefruits. It is a carotenoid pigment and is known for its bright red color. Lycopene is a potent antioxidant that has a number of potential health benefits, including the potential to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and to improve cardiovascular health..

One of the key areas of research on lycopene has focused on its potential cancer-protective effects. Lycopene has been shown to inhibit the growth of various types of cancer cells in the laboratory, including breast, lung, and prostate cancer. It has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer in animal studies. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential uses and risks of lycopene in the prevention and treatment of cancer..

In addition to its potential cancer-protective effects, lycopene has also been shown to have other potential health benefits. It has been shown to improve cardiovascular health by reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. It has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects and to improve skin health..

Lycopene belongs in a variety of foods, including tomatoes, watermelons, and pink grapefruits. It is also available in supplement form, although the safety and effectiveness of lycopene supplements have not been fully established..

Summary

From all the above, lycopene is a naturally occurring molecule with a range of potential health benefits, including the potential to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and to improve cardiovascular health. While more research is needed to fully understand its properties and potential uses, it is an exciting area of study with the potential to lead to new treatments for a variety of conditions..

3D structure

Cartesian coordinates

Geometry of Lycopene in x, y and z coordinates (Å units) to copy/paste elsewhere. Generated with Open Babel software.

2D drawing

Molecule descriptors

Other names (synonyms)

IUPAC nomenclature provides a standardized method for naming chemical compounds. Although this system is widely used in chemistry, many chemical compounds have also other names commonly used in different contexts. These synonyms can come from a variety of sources and are used for a variety of purposes.

One common source of synonyms for chemical compounds is the common or trivial names, assigned on the basis of appearance, properties, or origin of the molecule.

Another source of synonyms are historical or obsolete names employed in the past, however replaced nowadays by more modern or standardized names.

In addition to common and historical names, chemical compounds may also have synonyms that are specific to a particular field or industry.

Reference codes for other databases

• CAS number (Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number) is a unique identifier is assigned to every chemical compound indexed in the CAS database.
• Beilstein: The Beilstein database is a comprehensive source of information on organic chemistry, including information on chemical structures, properties, and reactions. The Beilstein database assigns unique identifiers which can be used to identify compounds in scientific literature and other sources.
• ChEBI (Chemical Entities of Biological Interest): ChEBI is a database of small chemical molecules that are of interest in the field of biology.
• PubChem CID (Compound Identifier): PubChem is a database of chemical compounds that is maintained by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• RTECS number (Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances): The RTECS is a database of information on the toxic effects of chemicals, including information on their structures and properties.
• ChEMBL (Compound Bioactivity Data): ChEMBL is a database of bioactivity data for small molecules, including information on their properties and structures.
• CompTox Dashboard (Environmental Protection Agency): The CompTox Dashboard is a database of information on the toxicology and environmental effects of chemicals.

Physico-Chemical properties

LogP and topological polar surface area (TPSA) values were estimated using Open Babel software.

The n-octanol/water partition coeficient (K_ow) data is applied in toxicology and drug research. K_ow values are used, to guess the environmental fate of persistent organic pollutants. High partition coefficients values, tend to accumulate in the fatty tissue of organisms. Molecules with a log(K_ow) (or LogP) greater than 5 are considered to bioaccumulate.

TPSA values are the sum of the surface area over all polar atoms or molecules, mainly oxygen and nitrogen, also including hydrogen atoms.

In medicinal chemistry, TPSA is used to assess the ability of a drug to permeabilise cells.

For molecules to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (and act on receptors in the central nervous system), TPSA values below 90 Ų are required. Thus, molecules with a polar surface area greater than 140 Ų tend to be poorly permeable to cell membranes.