Lycopene, a carotenoid found in plant foods, is also a red pigment. Dark red needle-like crystals, soluble in chloroform, benzene and oil but insoluble in water. It is unstable to light and oxygen and turns brown when exposed to iron. Its molecular formula is C40H56, and its molecular weight is 536.85. The molecular structure has 11 conjugated double bonds and 2 unconjugated double bonds, making it a straight chain hydrocarbon. It does not have the physiological activity of vitamin A, but has a strong antioxidant function. The content is higher in the fruits of mature red plants, especially in tomato, carrot, watermelon, papaya and guava. It can be used as a pigment in food processing and is also commonly used as a raw material for antioxidant health food.

Lycopene, as a promising carotenoid compound, cannot be synthesized in the human body and must be obtained through dietary supplementation. After the discovery of the physiological function of lycopene, Ly-cored Natural Products Industries Ltd., Israel. Take the lead in developing lycopene products. In addition, Henkel Company of the United States and Makhtshim Company of Japan have respectively produced drugs with lycopene as the main active ingredient. The main effects of lycopene include lowering blood pressure, treating high blood cholesterol, high blood lipids, and reducing cancer cells, which have a significant effect. At present, there are few reports on the application of lycopene as food or drug raw materials in China.
Lycopene can be used as a nutritional supplement to maintain human health. Lycopene oleoresin made by the Japanese has been widely used in beverages, cold foods, meat products and baked foods. Because of the special function of lycopene, it is also a functional factor for the development of functional food in modern sense, such as antioxidant health capsules, or canned medicinal food made after compatibility with other medicinal plants.