Bulk Lycopene is a natural carotenoid. It is found mainly in red fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, watermelon and grapefruit. It is a fat-soluble pigment. Its chemical structure contains 11 conjugated double bonds and 2 non-conjugated double bonds. This unique structure gives it many important chemical properties. Lycopene acts as a photoprotectant in plants, helping to protect them from UV damage.
In terms of chemical stability, lycopene bulk is relatively stable during processing and storage. However, oxidation may occur under conditions of high temperature, light and oxygen. In the human body, lycopene is mainly ingested through food. It is absorbed in the intestinal tract, and the absorbed lycopene is distributed to various tissues and organs, including the eyes.
Physiological Structure of Eye
The eye is a complex optical system, consisting mainly of the wall and contents of the eyeball. The wall of the eyeball is divided into three layers, with the cornea and sclera as the outer layers. The cornea is transparent and is located at the front of the eye. It allows light to enter the eye and is refractive. The sclera is a white tough fibrous membrane. This serves primarily to protect the internal structures of the eye.
The middle layer includes the iris, ciliary body and choroid. The iris regulates the size of the pupil and controls the amount of light entering the eye. The ciliary body regulates the curvature of the lens through the contraction and diastole of the ciliary muscles. This allows the eye to see objects at different distances. The choroid contains an abundance of blood vessels, which mainly provide nourishment to the retina.
The inner layer is the retina, which is a key part of vision formation. There are two types of photoreceptor cells in the retina, the cone cells and the rod cells. Cone cells are mainly responsible for bright and colour vision and are able to distinguish fine objects and colours. Rod cells are responsible for dark vision and function in low light conditions.
Health Benefits
• Antioxidant effects
The eye is an organ that is susceptible to oxidative stress damage. During normal physiological processes, the eye produces large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS),. such as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. These reactive oxygen species are mainly derived from photochemical reactions in the retina, mitochondrial respiration, and inflammatory reactions. When the production of reactive oxygen species exceeds the body's antioxidant defence capacity, oxidative stress injury results.
Bulk Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. It scavenges reactive oxygen species from the eye and reduces the damage caused by oxidative stress. Its antioxidant capacity is mainly derived from its conjugated double bond structure. It is effective in bursting unilinear oxygen and scavenging free radicals. Studies have shown that lycopene has twice the antioxidant capacity of beta-carotene and 100 times the antioxidant capacity of vitamin E. In age-related macular degeneration, for example, lycopene has been shown to have a high antioxidant activity.
For example, oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and is susceptible to oxidative damage. Lycopene powder bulk protects RPE cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. This helps prevent the onset and progression of AMD.
• Preventing Retinal Disease
Retinopathy is one of the leading causes of vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes. A hyperglycaemic state leads to endothelial cell damage in retinal blood vessels, causing microangiopathy. Lycopene can improve retinal vascular endothelial function by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. This plays a preventive role in diabetic retinopathy.
For age-related macular degeneration, in addition to its antioxidant effects, lycopene protein powder modulates signalling pathways in the retina. It inhibits the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and promotes retinal cell survival. In some animal experiments, administration of lycopene-rich foods reduced pathological damage to the retina and improved visual function.
• Reducing eye inflammation
Eye inflammation can be caused by a variety of factors. Such as infections, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. Inflammatory reactions can lead to damage and dysfunction of eye tissues. Lycopene has anti-inflammatory properties. It inhibits the activation of inflammatory cells and the release of inflammatory mediators.
For example, in the treatment of uveitis, bulk lycopene can be used as an adjunctive therapeutic agent to reduce the inflammatory response and relieve ocular pain, redness and swelling. Its anti-inflammatory mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the activation of nuclear transcription factor - κB (NF - κB), which is a key regulator of the inflammatory response. Lycopene can prevent its transfer from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. This reduces the expression of inflammation-related genes.
• Improved visual function
Lycopene extract has also been shown to improve the visual function of the eyes. In some small clinical trials, subjects given bulk lycopene powder supplementation were found to have some improvement in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and other indicators of visual function. This may be due to the fact that lycopene improves the nutrient supply and metabolic environment of the retina and enhances the function of retinal cells.
In addition, lycopene 10 powder improves the adaptive ability of the eye, including dark adaptation and bright adaptation. Dark adaptation is the process by which the retina's sensitivity to light gradually increases as the eye moves from a bright environment to a dark one. Bright adaptation is the opposite process. Lycopene can accelerate the process of eye adaptation and improve the quality of vision by regulating photochemical reactions in the retina.
Synergy with other nutrients
• Synergy with Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Lycopene is more effective in protecting the macula from damage caused by oxidative stress when it works with lutein and zeaxanthin. This can improve vision protection.
• Binding with Vitamin E and Vitamin C
Lycopene oil works synergistically with antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C to enhance the scavenging of free radicals. This improves the antioxidant defence system of the eyes.
Lycopene has a number of potential benefits for eye health. These include antioxidant protection, prevention of retinal disease, reduction of ocular inflammation and improved visual function. Consuming bulk lycopene through a sensible diet or using supplements where appropriate may help maintain eye health. Guanjie Biotech is the China tomato extract powder factory for bulk lycopene production. If you are interested in our products, welcome to inquiry us: info@gybiotech.com.
