Lycopene: A Natural Red Pigment

Abstract Lycopene is the natural coloring compound of the carotenoids that occur in plants and it is significant plant pigment not only due to its color but also it is well known for its health benefits. Many researchers confirmed by in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo studies that lycopene-enriched foods are connected to diseases, such as cancers of the prostate and gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes. Many dieticians have been suggested that dietary lycopene increases through the intake of well mature dark red tomatoes and their products. This chapter discusses different methods of extractions, such as Savant extraction, enzymatic extraction, supercritical extraction, determination techniques, that is, spectrophotometric, HPLC, and purification methods, that is, column chromatography technique, and crystallization method. The chapter also discusses the stability of lycopene during processing at various temperatures and various storage conditions. Applications are considered to understand lycopene’s nutraceutical, epidemiological, and pharmaceutical importance, as well.