Tomato Phytochemicals and Prostate Cancer Risk

As phytoene and phytofluene are not commercially available, plant cell culture methodologies utilizing the herbicide norflurazon and 14C-sucrose were developed to biosynthesize and radiolabel these carotenoids in tomato cell suspension cultures. DU 145 prostate tumor cells absorbed 14C-15- cis phytoene and an oxidized phytoene product and partially metabolized these compounds in vitro. To elucidate the biological roles of phytoene and phytofluene, it was essential to determine the biodistribution and bioavailability of these carotenoids in vivo. Male F344 rats fed a 10% tomato powder diet displayed a distinct tissue specific tomato carotenoid accumulation, such that phytofluene and lycopene had the highest carotenoid accumulation in the liver and prostate, respectively. Provision of a single oral dose of either phytoene or phytofluene resulted in an increase in the dosed carotenoid concentration in most tissues. To evaluate an interrelationship between phytofluene, lycopene, or tomato powder consumption and androgen status, castrated or sham-operated, male F344 rats were provided with oral supplementation of phytofluene or lycopene or fed a 10% tomato powder or control diet for 4 d. Results show that short-term carotenoid and tomato intake lowered serum testosterone concentrations, potentially by modulation of prostate and/or testes steroidogenic enzyme mRNA expression. These studies suggest that a variety of phytochemicals, including flavonoids and carotenoids, are collectively responsible for the bioactivity of tomatoes that is associated with prostate cancer risk reduction.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nutritional Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Campbell, Jessica Korrine

Contributors dc:contributor

• John W. Erdman, Jr.

• Agriculture, Plant Culture

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3242807

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/84947