Niranjan S. Munjal

While tomato products supplementation, containing various carotenoids, including lycopene has hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect, the role of purified lycopene for the same remains unclear. Thus we tested the effect of pure lycopene powder for its effect on lipid profile, blood glucose and antioxidant enzyme in hyperlipidemic rabbits.Male New- Zealand White rabbits were used. Blood samples from all the 12 rabbits were taken for the baseline level of lipids, [Serum Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), Serum Triglycerides (TG), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)] blood glucose and blood superoxide dismutase(SOD). Same tests were performed in high fat diet fed (control group) and high fat diet + lycopene (10 mg/kg) (test group) after 6 weeks. There was a significant decrease in the level of serum TC, LDL – C and serum TG and an increase in serum HDL – C and antioxidant SOD after addition of lycopene to high fat diet. There was however no change in blood glucose level. Purified lycopene showed significant hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity. However, it did not show significant effect on blood glucose level. Key Words: Lycopene, Hypolipidemia, Antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase, High fat diet.