Lycopene: A Case Study

Lycopene (C40H56) and β-carotene (C40H56), two carotenoids, are found in tomato paste. Their chemical structure are shown below.

Tetrahymena cells are model organisms that have led to the discovery of many groundbreaking topics in the biology world. Tetrahymena cells nourish through a process called phagocytosis. Phagocytosis is when the cell engulfs anything in its path using the cell’s cytoplasm. In this experiment, through the use of a control, and low and high concentration of tobacco extract it was determined that cigarette extract inhibits the process of phagocytosis in cells. This was then compared to the ciliotoxic effects of cigarette smoke on the lungs and the hypothesis was supported after the drop in phagocytosis of high and low concentrations after ten minutes. It can be determined that cigarette smoke does have a direct effect on the difficulty of breathing and overall living of life.

Cancer or the big C as it is commonly referred to by laymen is a scary word for people to hear or discuss. The exact cause of cancer is unknown, but is believed to be caused by many elements, including diet, chemicals, tobacco, radiation, and mutations that occur in the human body, as well as defective cells and genes. Experts know that cancer requires oxygen and nutrients to grow more cancer cells. The paper will explore the concept of angiogenesis, what it is, and how it impacts cancer, along with exploring activators and inhibitors to stop the growth of cancer. Natural products will be reviewed to highlight any potential value in eliminating and reducing the risks of getting any type of cancer.

Beta –carotene toxicity cases are rampant among smokers. Physicians advise active smokers to avoid these supplements as their intake results in increase risk of lung cancer. Scientists have asserted that metabolites elements present in the Beta-carotene substances destroy retinoic acids that repress cancer growth in the lungs (Gutiérrez, & Gonzalez, 2010). In addition, metabolites catalyze proteins responsible for cell division hence activates the growth of cancerous cells. It is for this reason that smokers are prohibited from taking Beta-carotene substances. Thus, Beta-carotene supplements are best suited for diabetic patients and vitamin A deficient individuals.

Cancer is the second most prominent cause of death in the United States. In the year 2016, it is predicted that 595,690 Americans will die from this disease.12 Caner is defined as an uncontrollable division of cells in the body that spreads into surrounding tissue. This rapid division of cells can occur almost anywhere in the human body. The cancer treatments currently available in modern medicine include a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Recently scientists have discovered that there could be another way to battle this epidemic. There proves to be a strong correlation between this rapid cell division that is seen in cancer patients with the metabolism of glucose. Glucose provides the energy needed for these cells to continue to rapidly divide and develop new cells. This could mean that nutrition may be a very valuable weapon in the war against cancer. 5 A high fat, low carbohydrate diet, also known as a ketogenic diet, has been successful in the clinical world for patients with uncontrollable seizures, but it may now pose as a viable resource to assist in cancer recovery. By restricting carbohydrates through diet, thus starving the cancer cell of glucose, we may be able to slow or terminate the spread of these cancer cells. The objective of this paper will be to give a better insight on how a Ketogenic diet may aid in delaying or terminating cancer.

Liver sections were stained in an Oil-Red-O solution to visualize lipid and structure. Using the Folch, method, livers, were homogenized in a 2:1 solution of chloroform and methanol and then mixed in assay buffer for colometric assay. Plasma was isolated from the blood using centrifuge. This was used to quantify HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels. Lung and skin sections were stained to observe the structure of collagen.

Insulin resistance is directly linked to insulin signaling in target tissues, including skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study is to determine if acylcarnitines undergo muscle insulin resistance. This research establishes a connection between incomplete β-oxidation of muscle fatty acids to development of insulin resistance and oxidative stress. C2C12 cells, primary mice muscle and human myotubes were isolated to test insulin, inflammatory and antioxidant response. Acylcarnitine treatment led to 20-30% decrease in insulin response in C2C12 cell cultures. Oxidative stress tripled by short and long chain acylcarnitines but reversed with antioxidant treatment. β-oxidation of fatty acids was significantly lower in insulin

Insulin resistance can also be caused by increased triglycerides and free fatty acids intake. This is due to the effect Triglycerides and free fatty acids have on insulin stimulated signal pathways, translocation protein-4 and glucose uptake (Choi, Jung, Park, & Song, 2004). It is found that CLA has a regulatory effect on glucose and lipid metabolism regulators. CLA affects the PPAR-y ligand, a major receptor that influences the expression and transcription of genes that are related to the metabolic effects of glucose and lipids. Such protein regulators as aP2, insulin-dependent glucose transporter 4, FATp, ACS and adiponectin are all influenced by increased CLA. (Xiao-Rong Zhoua, Chang-Hao Suna, Jia-Ren Liua, b, Dan Zhaoa, 2008). It was also theorized that CLA may act on other glucose regulators such as phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, glucose-6-phosphate, glucokinase, sterol-regulation element finding protein, acyl coenzyme A oxidase, fatty acid synthase and uncoupling protein. Testing done on rats with a mixture of cis 9, trans 11 and trans 10, cis 12 CLA had found that the only effected regulatory agents were regulators involved in gluconeogenesis such as Phosphoenol carboxykinase and transcriptional factors, sterol-regulating element binding protein-1c and PPAR-y (Choi, Jung, Park, & Song, 2004). The main regulatory effect on insulin resistance was the effect on ligand PPAR-y, a key regulator in lipid homeostasis. Mixtures of CLA isomers consisting of cis 9, trans 11 and trans 10,cis 12 effect gene expression of PPARy mRNA in rats. It was found to have affected the levels of aP2, FATP, ACS and adipoenectin mRNA expression in adipose tissue. CLA increased These regulatory proteins resulting in an uptake of free fatty acids into the adipose tissue and decreasing uptake into the muscle tissue. This has been found to improve muscle insulin

Lycopene has a naturally occuring compound called phytonutrient that reacts with human body to trigger healthy reactions including bone health that is they aid in the growth of strong bones.

The triacylglycerol and lipid hydroperoxide levels decreased in rats fed the fiber-enriched and fiber and MSG-enriched diets, whereas the levels of total antioxidant substances increased in these animals.46 Male Wistar rats were exposed to MSG (4 mg/g BW, intraperitoneally (ip)) for 6 days. MSG significantly decreased the thymocyte proliferation (p < 0.001) induced by Concanavalin A (ConA) and increased the apoptosis rate (p <0.001) as well as the downregulation of

The nicotine cause heart diseases; it can destruct the structure and function of your heart and blood vessels. This destruction can lead to Atherosclerosis disease, is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the patient arteries. Atherosclerosis is the dominant predictor of cardiovascular disease as heart failure, arrhythmia and heart valve problems. By time, the plaque limits blood flow and oxygen to the heart, brain and other vital organs, which then cause damage and weakened blood vessels and also can lead to a myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or arrhythmias, other diseases to the brain as carotid artery disease and can cause kidney diseases. In some cases, if the plague builds

Cigarette smoking is one of the greatest health risks to the human population. Toxic to both smokers and nonsmokers, smoking has developed a new threat, thirdhand smoke (THS), which is the accumulation of secondhand smoke (SHS) on surfaces, becoming more toxic as it ages over time. This study attempts to study the threat of THS on children and others in environments where smoking has occurred by investigating the effects of THS on liver and lung function, skin healing, and behavior in mice exposed to THS under conditions similar to human exposure. The exposed mice excreted levels of NNAL similar to those found in children exposed to SHS. In liver, THS increased lipid levels and resulted in non-alcoholic fatty disease. In lungs, it stimulated high levels of inflammatory cytokines, possible precursors to fibrosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. THS exposed mice exhibited poor healing capabilities were hyperactive. These results and implications

Tobacco consumption is one of the modifiable risk factors that causes or worsens numerous diseases and conditions. Tobacco used is the leading cause for cancer and cancer death in the world. Smoking increases the incidence of cancer of the lung, esophagus, kidney, bladder, stomach, colon etc. but also that of chronic diseases in particular cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease like pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) while weakening the body’s immune system. Furthermore, smoking is responsible for the death of 480,000 people every year in the United States of America from which many are secondhand smoking.(Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016) Among other effects,

These dietary phytochemicals have been demonstrated to modulate incidence and / or multiplicity and / or latency period of carcinogen / spontaneously-induced tumors at various organ sites in experimental rodent models (Table 2). Surrogate markers like cell proliferation and apoptosis and various detoxication pathways (xenobiotic enzyme inductions / inhibition, lipid peroxidation etc.) have also been successfully used for demonstrating protective action in in vivo system. Overall, the mechanisms implicated in the dietary phytochemical-mediated inhibition are diverse (Figure 2). The observed anti-initiating and anti-promoting activity of dietary phytochemicals in experimental models involve modulation of redox status, direct interaction with proteins and modulation of signaling kinases ultimately leading to effects on genes and cell signaling pathways at multiple levels(Figure

Smoking creates toxins in the blood. This greatly contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty material is deposited along the walls of the arteries. This fatty material thickens, hardens, and can eventually block the arteries if not treated. Clots may also form around the plaque deposits. Smoking raises the levels of proteins that cause the blood to clot and also increases platelet production, making the blood stickier which further creates risk for clots. This also interferes with the blood flow and poses an added danger if they were to break off and travel through the body causeing assorted health problems such as heart attack, stroke, or gangrene.