tomato:
Ayurvedic:
» qualities: Kapha
» actions: Blood purifier, cures anemia, aids dyspepsia, hemorrhoids
» uses: scurvy, liver problems, chronic fever; improves digestive system, cures chronic diseases of stomach
Chinese:
» qualities: sweet, acidic, neutral
» actions: promotes secretion of saliva; quenches thirst; descending nature, increases Fluids, strengthens Stomach, cools Xue (Blood), clears Heat, detoxifies, soothes Liver
» uses: diabetes; bleeding gums; mouth ulcers; gastric ulcers; Liver Yang Rising, Liver Fire, hypertension, indigestion due to hypochlorhydria
» contraindications: hot moist Stomach and Intestines
naturopathic:
» qualities: alkaline-forming food, combine with proteins or in vegetable salads
» actions: rids toxins, especially uric acid; liver cleanser, blood cleanser
» uses:
gallstones
cancer prevention: Lycopene, the major tomato carotenoid, has demonstrated significant antiproliferative properties against endometrial, mammary, and lung human cancer cells in vitro. In addition to its inhibitory effect on basal endometrial cancer cell proliferation, lycopene also suppressed insulin-like growth factor-I-stimulated growth. (Levy J, et al. Nutr Cancer 1995;24(3):257-266.)
Rats with chemically-induced breast cancer that received a series of injections of tomato extract rich in the carotenoid lycopene developed significantly fewer tumors and the tumor size was smaller compared to placebo. Rats injected with beta-carotene did not experience the benefits against breast cancer. (Sharoni Y, et al. Cancer Detect Prev 1997,21(2): 118-123.)
» contraindications: kidney stones, arthritis
biochemical: high in oxalic acid, chlorine; beta carotene and vitamins B3, C
» form: raw red tomato
» portion: 1 tomato
» calories (kcal): 24
» weight (g): 123
» water (%): 94.3
» protein (g): 1.1
» fat (g): 0.3
» carbohydrates (g): 5.3
» unsaturated fatty acid (g) : 0.3
» saturated fatty acid (g): 0
» calories from fat (%): 11.2
» cholesterol (mg): 0
» dietary fiber (g): 1
» vitamin A (RE): 139
» vitamin A (IU): 1394
» vitamin B1 (mg): 0.07
» vitamin B2 (mg): 0.06
» vitamin B3 (mg): 0.7
» vitamin B6 (mg): 0.06
» vitamin B12 (mcg): 0
» vitamin C (mg): 22
» vitamin E (IU): 0.55
» folic acid (mcg): 12
» pantothenic acid (mg): 0.3
» sodium (mg): 10
» potassium (mg): 254
» calcium (mg): 8
» phosphorus (mg): 29
» magnesium (mg): 14
» iron (mg): 0.59
» zinc (mg): 0.13
» copper (mg): 0.095
» manganese (mg): 0.15
footnotes
Agriculture Handbook #8
Airola, p. 294
Carper, p. 297
Jensen, pp. 220-22
Levy J, Bosin E, Feldman B, Giat Y, Miinster A, Danilenko M, Sharoni Y. Lycopene is a more potent inhibitor of human cancer cell proliferation than either alpha-carotene or beta-carotene. Nutr Cancer 1995;24(3):257-266.
Abstract: The antiproliferative properties of lycopene, the major tomato carotenoid, were compared with those of alpha- and beta-carotene. Lycopene, delivered in cell culture medium from stock solutions in tetrahydrofuran, strongly inhibited proliferation of endometrial (Ishikawa), mammary (MCF-7), and lung (NCI-H226) human cancer cells with half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 1-2 microM; alpha- and beta-carotene were far less effective inhibitors. For example, in Ishikawa cells, a 4-fold higher concentration of alpha-carotene or a 10-fold higher concentration of beta-carotene was needed for the same order of growth suppression. The inhibitory effect of lycopene was detected after 24 hours of incubation, and it was maintained for at least three days. In contrast to cancer cells, human fibroblasts were less sensitive to lycopene, and the cells gradually escaped growth inhibition over time. In addition to its inhibitory effect on basal endometrial cancer cell proliferation, lycopene also suppressed insulin-like growth factor-I-stimulated growth. Insulin-like growth factors are major autocrine/paracrine regulators of mammary and endometrial cancer cell growth. Therefore, lycopene interference in this major autocrine/paracrine system may open new avenues for research on the role of lycopene in the regulation of endometrial cancer and other tumors.
Lu, p. 98
Ni, p. 70
Sharoni Y, Giron E, Rise M, Levy J. Effects of lycopene-enriched tomato oleoresin on 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors. Cancer Detect Prev 1997;21(2):118-123.
Abstract: Consumption of carotenoids has frequently been inversely correlated with cancer incidence. In this report we used the 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumor model to compare the effect of lycopene-enriched tomato oleoresin on the initiation and progression of these tumors with that of beta-carotene. Rats were injected i.p. with lycopene-enriched tomato oleoresin or beta-carotene (10 mg/kg, twice per week) for 2 weeks prior to tumor induction by DMBA and for an additional 16 weeks after carcinogen administration. HPLC analysis of carotenoids extracted from several tissues showed that both carotenoids were absorbed into blood, liver, mammary gland, and mammary tumors. The tomato oleoresin-treated rats developed significantly fewer tumors, and the tumor area was smaller than that of the unsupplemented rats. Rats receiving beta-carotene showed no protection against the development of mammary cancer.
Thakkur, p. 85