Highest Lycopene Content Research Articles

Effects of harvest time on the quality attributes of processed and non‐processed tomato varieties

SummaryThis study examines physicochemical changes in newly developed and existing tomato varieties at different levels of maturity. Serum viscosity is an important factor in the selection of tomato varieties for processing. Most of the attributes indicative of quality for fresh and paste tomatoes occurred at a less mature stage and declined with maturity. The canned varieties ‘H9888,’‘H8892’ and ‘H9780’ had a greater ascorbic acid content and antioxidant capacity. The highest lycopene contents were found in the varieties ‘H9888,’‘CXD254,’‘CXD222’ and ‘H9780’. Total soluble solids levels increased with maturity. The highest acidity values occurred in canned ‘Shasta’, ‘CXD254’ and ‘H9780’ varieties. Mid‐ and late‐season varieties harvested at an early stage produced thicker pastes with greater serum viscosity and acidity than tomatoes harvested at other points in the ripening process. The best results were obtained from canned samples of ‘H9888,’‘CXD254’ and ‘H9780.’

Antioxidant Composition of Red and Orange Cultivars of Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon L): A Comparative Evaluation

Fourteen commercial cultivars of tomato were analyzed for their antioxidant composition. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in lycopene and phenolic contents between red and yellow cultivars. Red cultivars had higher lycopene content (2.735 to 6.552 mg 100g−1) than yellow cultivars (0.769 to 1.238 mg 100g−1). Mean total polyphenolic content and total antioxidant activity in red cultivars was also higher than those in yellow cultivars. Overall cherry tomatoes had highest phenolic content and appeared to be a promising cultivar in terms of their health promoting effects. The results highlight an existing unexploited variability in yellow tomato to improve their antioxidant properties.

A new genetic linkage map of tomato based on aSolanum lycopersicum ×S. pimpinellifoliumRIL population displaying locations of candidate pathogen response genes

The narrow genetic base of the cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L., necessitates introgression of new variation from related species. Wild tomato species represent a rich source of useful genes and traits. Exploitation of genetic variation within wild species can be facilitated by the use of molecular markers and genetic maps. Recently we identified an accession (LA2093) within the red-fruited wild tomato species Solanum pimpinellifolium L. with exceptionally desirable characteristics, including disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and high fruit lycopene content. To facilitate genetic characterization of such traits and their exploitation in tomato crop improvement, we developed a new recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from a cross between LA2093 and an advanced tomato breeding line (NCEBR-1). Furthermore, we constructed a medium-density molecular linkage map of this population using 294 polymorphic markers, including standard RFLPs, EST sequences (used as RFLP probes), CAPS, and SSRs. The map spanned 1091 cM of the tomato genome with an average marker spacing of 3.7 cM. A majority of the EST sequences, which were mainly chosen based on the putative role of their unigenes in disease resistance, defense-related response, or fruit quality, were mapped onto the tomato chromosomes for the first time. Co-localizations of relevant EST sequences with known disease resistance genes in tomato were also examined. This map will facilitate identification, genetic exploitation, and positional cloning of important genes or quantitative trait loci in LA2093. It also will allow the elucidation of the molecular mechanism(s) underlying important traits segregating in the RIL population. The map may further facilitate characterization and exploitation of genetic variation in other S. pimpinellifolium accessions as well as in modern cultivars of tomato.

BY-PRODUCTS OF TOMATO PROCESSING AS A SOURCE OF FUNCTIONAL COMPOUNDS

By-products of tomato processing represent a major disposal problem for the industry concerned. The exploitation of by-products of tomato processing as a source of functional compounds and their application in food is a promising field considering that with the food market the innovative secter of functional foods is growing fast and becoming more important.Tomato seed contained the highest values of protein(28.03%), andether extract(20.83%), while tomato skin had the high value of crude fiber (55.42%) ,and ash (3.86%). Tomato seed meal contained avaliable amount of alkaloids, total phenolic, saponin, while tomato skins had the high content of carotenoids and lycopene. These substances had an antioxidants or anticancer effect. So, the presence of these compounds in tomato wastes allow their application in food processing to obtain healthy products. Physical and chemical properties of tomato seed oil indicated that oil had 0.923 specific gravity, 1.478 refractive index, 114.165 iodine value, 90.476 peroxide value and 3.685 free fatty acids.The results reveled that tomato seed oil contained 79.99% unsaturated fatty acids. Linoleic acid (18:2 ω6) is the major fatty acids was in a concentration of 56.67% followed by oleic acid (18:1 ω9) 18.37%. Results indicate that tomato seed contained higher levels of some essential amino acids i.e. phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine and lysine than those by FAO/WHO (1993). Lysine was found to be the first limiting amino acid, while phenylalanine was the second limiting amino acid in the defatted tomato seed and skin meal. So,tomato seeds were good source for most essential amino acids such as phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine and lysine which were higher than those given in FAO/WHO.

Beef hamburgers enriched in lycopene using dry tomato peel as an ingredient

The direct addition of dry tomato peel (DTP) to hamburgers may be useful both to obtain a new product enriched in lycopene and for providing a use for this by-product from the tomato industry. In this study, different amounts of DTP (0–6.0% w/w) were added to raw and cooked hamburgers, and the effects on the meat’s physico–chemical and sensorial characteristics were studied. The maximum DTP concentration compatible with good sensory acceptability and high lycopene content was determined. Addition of DTP increased the colour parameters a ∗ and b ∗ of raw and cooked hamburgers, and modified all textural properties probably because of the presence of fibre. The hardness values of cooked samples was significantly higher in the batch containing 6% DTP (67.6 N) than in a control batch (50.9 N, p < 0.05). The addition of DTP to 4.5% results in hamburgers with good overall acceptability and a lycopene content of 4.9 mg/100 g of cooked hamburger.

토마토 과색 돌연변이 유전자(old-gold-crimson) 선발을 위한 dCAPS 분자표지 개발

The old-gold-crimson (og c ) fruit color mutation produces deep red tomato fruit with high lycopene content. og c is a null mutation allele of lycopene β-cyclase (Crt-b) gene (B locus) that converts lycopene to β-carotene in the cartenoid biosynthesis pathway in tomato. Breeding of high lycopene tomato cultivars can be accelerated by marker-assisted selection (MAS) for introgression of og c allele by using a gene-based DNA marker. In order to develop a marker, single nucleotide deletion of adenine(A) within a poly-A repeat that has been known to be responsible for frame-shift mutation of og c was confirmed by resequencing mutant allele and wild-type allele at B locus of several tomato lines. For allele discrimination and detection of og c , derived CAPS (dCAPS) approach was used by designing a primer that artificially introduced restriction enzyme recognition site of Hin fI in PCR products from og c allele. This dCAPS marker is co-dominant gene-based PCR marker that can be efficiently used for MAS breeding program aiming the development of high lycopene tomato.

Antioxidant Capacity and Antimutagenic Activity of Natural Oleoresin from Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Natural oleoresins rich in lycopene were obtained from two varieties of tomato (Zedona and Gironda) and their nutraceutical potential (antioxidant and antimutagenic capacity) was evaluated. Both oleoresins had a high content of lycopene, 58.33+/-1.67 mg/g (Zedona) and 63.97+/-0.80 mg/g (Gironda). The antioxidant activity (AA) of the oleoresins by beta-carotene method were 56.4-74.5% (Zedona) and 51-72.8% (Gironda), while when using the free radical stable 2,2-diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) method, the antiradical activity (ARA) was determined to be 18.2-32.7% (Zedona) and 16.6-26.7% (Gironda) for the concentrations tested that of 200-400 microM equivalents of lycopene. The antimutagenic activity of the oleoresins was tested against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) using the microsuspension assay, both varieties had a very high antimutagenic potential against AFB1 (60-66%).These results suggest the NCRT can be taken advantage to obtaining rich oleoresin in lycopene with a nutraceutical value.

A journey through the Medicinal Plant Industry of the Caribbean highlighting Mona's Contribution

The Caribbean hosted 18,081,199 visitors in 2007, and this figure does not include those who took vacations within their own islands. For Jamaica, more visitors came in 2007 than there were residents. While a few of these trips are taken for business, most are taken for pleasure. In fact, tourism accounts for over 21 per cent of all Caribbean capital formation while comparable figures are Oceania (13%) and North America/Europe (10%). A large part of the draw of the Caribbean is its extensive and often unique flora; and it is this flora which has been a source of health and wealth for the Caribbean for a very long time. Unfortunately, at the same time that the Caribbean is a tourism haven, it is also a bio-diversity hotspot. A 'hotspot' is a relatively small region containing a high percentage of endemic species that are in danger of extinction. In fact, the Caribbean region is one of the hottest as it contains 2.3 % and 2.9% of the world's flora and fauna, respectively, on only 0.15% of the Earth's surface (Myers et al 2000), and only 11.3% of the Caribbean's primary vegetation remains. Nevertheless, more than 30% of the higher plant species presently in the Caribbean are endemic. These findings have prompted Conservation International to designate the Caribbean among the top 8 of the world's 25 hotspots across the globe. The endemic species of Jamaica alone are an estimated 28% of the flowering plants (800 of 3000), 14% of the ferns (82 of 597), 18% of the birds (20 of 113) and 15% of the bats (3 of 20), to name a few. It is against this backdrop that journey through the Medicinal Plant Industry of the Caribbean will take place, travelling from the world-wide industry, into the Caribbean, to Jamaica, then to the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Biotechnology Centre (BTC) and finally to the activities of the Medicinal Plant Research Group (MPRG). World-wide Medicinal Plant Industry The world-wide medicinal plant industry is very profitable. The global trade in herbais has an estimated value of US $14 billion, with trade in the dried plants exceeding US $800 million while the trade in herbal extracts and semi-finished raw materials (e.g. powders) exceeding US $ 8 billion (Caribbean Herbal Business 2008). The main produce areas include Pharmaceuticals (medicinal and aromatic plants, saps, extracts, and vegetable alkaloids), Culinary Spices and Herbs, Cosmetics and Nutraceutials. The extracts (essential oils) from aromatic plants (those that have a nice smell) are used as fragrances for such products as perfumes, soaps, lotions and sprays, which are then used in spas. Many of these essential oils, as well as smelling nice, have medicinal and wellness properties. Thus pimento and lemon grass oils are used to kill fungus infections and basil, cinnamon and grapefruit oils are used for mental fatigue and lethargy1. Plants used for culinary purposes include herbs (green, fresh such as garlic, onions, scallions, sage, basil) and spices (e.g. ginger, nutmeg, pimento); these also are used for medicinal purposes such as turmeric as an antioxidant and anti-cancer agent, and ginger for nausea. Nutraceuticals are foods with medicinal value such as guava fruit for its high vitamin C content or tomatoes for their high lycopene content. Other medicinal plants are used for specific illness or condition such as aloe for burns, Echinacea for colds, or spirit weed as an anti-worm treatment. The Wellness Industry (which includes all the above components) is projected to reach US $1 trillion per annum by 2010 (Pilzer 2002: 30). The Caribbean is a young partner in this world-wide industry. Caribbean Medicinal Plant Industry The Caribbean is comprised of over 25 main Islands and several countries which have a Caribbean shore-line; the bio-diversity of the area is staggering. Even though most of the wild forested areas were cleared for sugar plantations and for its store of mahogany and cedar, the use of endemic, native and indigenous bio-diversity has been a source of healing for every generation. …

Phytoene synthase genes in tomato (Solanumlycopersicum L.) – new data on the structures, the deduced amino acid sequences and the expression patterns

The fruit of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a berry: red, fleshy and rich in seeds. Its colour is due to the high content of lycopene whose synthesis is activated by the phytoene synthase 1 (PSY1) enzyme, encoded by Psy1 which is distinct from Psy2. In the present study, we report on the genomic structures of the Psy1 and Psy2 genes and on their transcription patterns in different tomato tissues. Our results have completely clarified the structure of the Psy1 and Psy2 genes in the coding sequence region. The two genes were shown to have an highly conserved structure, with seven exons being almost identical and six introns being much more variable. For Psy1 and Psy2, respectively, the sequenced regions were 4527 and 3542 bp long, the coding sequences were 1239 bp and 1317 bp long, whereas the predicted protein sequences were 412 and 438 amino acids. The two proteins are almost identical in the central region, whereas most differences are present in the N-terminus and C-terminus. Quantitative real time PCR analysis showed that Psy2 transcript was present in all tested plant tissues, whereas Psy1 transcript could be detected in chromoplast-containing tissues, particularly in fruit where it activates and boosts lycopene accumulation. Interestingly, the organ with the highest relative content of Psy2 transcript is the petal and not the leaf. Psy1 is a Psy2 paralog derived through a gene duplication event that have involved other genes encoding rate controlling enzymes of the carotenoid pathway. Duplicate genes have been recruited to allow carotenoid synthesis in petals and fruits. However, recruitment of carotenoid metabolism for fruit pigmentation could have occurred later in the evolution, either because phytoene synthase gene duplication occurred later or because the fruit pigmentation process required a more sophisticated mechanism involving tight control of the transcription of other genes.

Process development of Gac powder by using different enzymes and drying techniques

New products from Gac, an indigenous fruit of Vietnam have been recently found in the worldwide markets as the aril part of the fruit has a high content of lycopene and β-carotene. These carotenoids are currently in special demand as they are natural antioxidants with potential to prevent and treat cancers. This study investigated some processing approaches for the production of powder from Gac arils and used currently developed analytical methods to measure the product qualities. The process development focused on the selection of a pre-treatment method before seed removal and a dehydration technique to minimise the degradation of the carotenoids after processing. The heat and enzymatic pre-treatments could be applied in an industrial-scale seed removal. However, using the same drying method the powder produced without enzymatic pre-treatment had a higher carotenoid content than the enzymatic-treated powder. Constant drying rates and critical moisture contents on a solid basis were measured for oven drying, air drying and vacuum drying. Spray drying and freeze drying were also attempted. Freeze-drying resulted in the Gac powder with the brightest colour and the highest level of carotenoids. The average loss of carotenoids of five Gac powder samples after pre-treatment and dehydration was 35%. These samples stored in vacuo below 25 °C could retain the red colour and 70% of carotenoids after 4 months. They were found to be acceptable in some trial food products.

Color and Lycopene Content of Tomato Puree Affected by Electroplasmolysis

Tomato puree was produced using three different breaking methods, namely heating by steam injection, by electroplasmolysis, and combination of both steam injection and electroplasmolysis. In electroplasmolysis, the tomato pulp was treated at the electric field strength of 68 V/cm for 1.5 seconds. L, a, b, a/b, tomato color index, total color difference, chroma difference, hue angle, and lycopene content of purees were measured. Puree samples breaked by electroplasmolysis had better color values and the highest lycopene content. The a/b, tomato color index, and lycopene content of these samples were as 2.00; 49.94 and 273.9 mg/kg, respectively.

Effect of minimal processing on bioactive compounds and color attributes of fresh-cut tomatoes

The feasibility of minimal processing and modified atmosphere packaging (5%O 2+5%CO 2) to preserve color attributes and bioactive compounds of fresh-cut tomato from different cultivars (Rambo, Durinta, Bodar, Pitenza, Cencara and Bola) was evaluated through storage under refrigeration. The phenolic compounds and vitamin C content of the six cultivars varied between 187.4 and 335.9 mg/kg fw and from 69.6 and to 212.3 mg/kg fw, respectively. The highest content of lycopene was found in Bodar tomatoes (80.5 mg/kg fw) while the concentration in the other cultivars ranged between 20.0 and 43.1 mg/kg fw. Antioxidant capacity, measured on the basis of the DPPH stable radical, was higher than 9.8% of DPPH inhibition. Neither the content of health-related compounds (lycopene, vitamin C and phenolic compounds) nor the antioxidant capacity changed significantly between whole and just-processed fresh-cut tomatoes. Furthermore the initial colors of fresh-cut tomatoes as well as vitamin C were maintained for 3 weeks under cold storage. The antioxidant capacity was well correlated with vitamin C and phenolic content, whereas lycopene was directly related to color measurements ( a *, L * and H *). Minimal processing maintains the main antioxidant compounds and color parameters of slices tomatoes for 21 days at 4 °C, thus preserving their initial nutritional value.

Quantitation of Carotenoids in Commonly consumed Vegetables in Japan

The carotenoid content, potentially an antioxidant, of 70 vegetables in Japan was determined by reversed-phase HPLC. α-Carotene was detected in 55 of 70 vegetable samples; β-carotene, in all 70; lycopene, in four types of tomatoes and Kintoki carrot; capsanthin, in only two types of sweet peppers; lutein, in 68 of the 70; zeaxanthin, in 30 of the 70; and β-cryptoxanthin in 12 of the 70 samples. All leafy vegetables contained relatively high levels of β-carotene and lutein. In contrast, fruits showed variable carotenoid compositions. A high content of lycopene was quantified in tomatoes and capsanthin was found only in red sweet peppers. In root crops, orange carrots contained high levels of α- and β-carotene, and a high level of lycopene was found in the Kintoki carrot. In other crops, such as head, beans, pods, inflorescences, and spears, carotenoid content was not found to be high in this study.

Antioxidant Composition in Cherry and High-Pigment Tomato Cultivars

Fourteen cultivars of cherry tomatoes and four cultivars of high-pigment tomato hybrids were cultivated in southern Italy, and the red-ripe fruits were analyzed for their content in different classes of antioxidants and for their antioxidant activity. Among the different cultivars, significant differences were found between lycopene, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C (ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid), and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. LS203 and Corbus appear to be the cultivars with the highest content of lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants among cherry tomatoes, respectively. All cultivars of high-pigment tomato hybrids showed an expected exceptionally high lycopene content. Among them, the highest content of lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants was found in cv. HLY 13. Hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activities were both significantly influenced by genotype. Such results highlight an existing unexploited variability in tomato germplasm and stress the need to evaluate the biodiversity and to support conventional breeding programs to improve tomato nutritional value.

Effects of olive oil and tomato lycopene combination on serum lycopene, lipid profile, and lipid oxidation

Objective We compared the effect of two diets (a diet high in olive oil and a diet high in carbohydrate and low in olive oil) with high lycopene content and other controlled carotenoids on serum lycopene, lipids, and in vitro oxidation. Methods This was a randomized crossover dietary intervention study carried out in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia in healthy free-living individuals. Twenty-one healthy subjects who were 22 to 70 y old were recruited by advertisements in newspapers and a university newsletter. A randomized dietary intervention was done with two diets of 10 d each. One diet was high in olive oil and the other was high in carbohydrate and low in olive oil; the two diets contained the same basic foods and a controlled carotenoid content high in lycopene. Results Significant increases ( P < 0.001) in serum lycopene concentration on both diets were to similar final concentrations. Higher serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( P < 0.01), lower ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ( P < 0.01), and lower triacylglycerols ( P < 0.05) occurred after the olive oil diet compared with the high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. There was no difference in total antioxidant status and susceptibility of serum lipids to oxidation. Conclusions Serum lycopene level changes with dietary lycopene intake irrespective of the amount of fat intake. However, a diet high in olive oil and rich in lycopene may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease by improving the serum lipid profile compared with a high-carbohydrate, low-fat, lycopene-rich diet.

Thermal processing of carrots: Lycopene stability and isomerisation with regard to antioxidant potential

The thermal stability of lycopene was evaluated in a carrot cultivar with a high lycopene content ( Daucus carota var. Nutri Red) by (a) exposure of carrot homogenates (with/without the addition of oil) to temperatures ranging from 25 to 140 °C; (b) applying convection and microwave vacuum drying to carrot slices. Heating carrot homogenates at temperatures above 100 °C initiated isomerisation of all- trans-lycopene under non-oxidising conditions, as indicated by a significant increase in 9- cis-lycopene. Isomerisation was enhanced at short treatment times, when sunflower oil was added prior to thermal treatment. Independent from an oil supplement, all- trans-lycopene was degraded at temperatures above 70 °C. The ratio of all- trans- to total- cis-isomers changed from 90:10 to 40:60, indicating a higher lycopene bioavailability due to generated cis-isomers. In oil containing carrot homogenates antioxidant properties of the methanol-soluble components raised after heat treatment at 130 °C for 0.5 h. Lycopene remained stable in dried carrots.

Effects of genotype and cultivation environment on lycopene content in red‐ripe tomatoes

AbstractLycopene, a natural red pigment found in tomato, is correlated with reduced incidence of some cancers. Forty tomato varieties, including cluster F1 hybrid tomatoes, round breeding line tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) and cherry tomato types (L esculentum var cerasiforme), grown under greenhouse and field conditions were evaluated for their lycopene content using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometry. Lycopene content varied significantly among the tomato varieties, with cherry tomato types having the highest lycopene content. Greenhouse‐grown cluster and round tomatoes contained more lycopene (mean = 30.3 mg kg−1) than field‐grown tomatoes (mean = 25.2 mg kg−1), whereas cherry tomato types had a higher lycopene content in field‐grown (mean = 91.9 mg kg−1) than in greenhouse‐grown (mean = 56.1 mg kg−1) fruits. HPLC analysis of lycopene isomeric forms revealed a higher content of all‐trans isomers in all tomato genotypes examined. However, the cis isomeric form was exceptionally higher in the field‐ and greenhouse‐grown cherry tomato L esculentum var cerasiforme cv Gardener's Delight, which contained ∼9.3 and 9.9 mg kg−1 cis isomers respectively. Results indicate that genetics and choice of cultivation environment may have a strong influence on tomato lycopene content. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry

The effects of 1‐methylcyclopropene treatment on the shelf life and quality of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme) fruit

SummaryThe use of 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) to extend the shelf life of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme) was investigated. Higher concentrations of 1‐MCP delayed the ethylene induced climacteric peaks in mature green (MG) and breaker (BR) fruits. Thirteen days after treatment, control fruits were 55% as firm as fruit treated with 0.11 μL L−1 1‐MCP. The initiation of fruit softening, chlorophyll degradation and accumulation of lycopene and carotenoids was delayed in treated fruits. Higher 1‐MCP concentrations inhibited the accumulation of lycopene and carotene such that the colour of the fruit did not reach that of control fruit. Treatment of MG cherry tomatoes with 1‐MCP enhanced shelf life optimally, while treatment of BR fruits was beneficial where full colour and high content of lycopene and carotenoids is important. Differentiation of the different stages of ripening before application of 1‐MCP is needed in order to succeed in accomplishing different postharvest objectives.

Dietary Intake of Lycopene Is Associated with Reduced Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Although fruits and vegetables have been implicated in the etiology of pancreatic cancer, the role of phytochemicals in these food groups has received little attention to date. In this study, we investigated the possible association between dietary carotenoids and pancreatic cancer risk. A case-control study of 462 histologically confirmed pancreatic cancer cases and 4721 population-based controls in 8 Canadian provinces took place between 1994 and 1997. Dietary intake was assessed by a self-administered FFQ. Unconditional logistic regression was used to assess associations between specific and total carotenoid intakes and the risk of pancreatic cancer. All tests of statistical significance were 2-sided. After adjustment for age, province, BMI, smoking, educational attainment, dietary folate, and total energy intake, lycopene, provided mainly by tomatoes, was associated with a 31% reduction in pancreatic cancer risk among men [odds ratio (OR) = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.46–0.96; P = 0.026 for trend] when comparing the highest and lowest quartiles of intake. Both β-carotene (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.32–0.99; P = 0.016 for trend) and total carotenoids (OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.34–1.00; P = 0.02 for trend) were associated with a significantly reduced risk among those who never smoked. The results of this study suggest that a diet rich in tomatoes and tomato-based products with high lycopene content may help reduce pancreatic cancer risk.

Antioxidant activities of New Zealand-grown tomatoes

The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant activities, total phenolics, lycopene and ascorbic acid content of four commercial tomato cultivars (Excell, Tradiro, Flavourine and Campari) of New Zealand, grown under similar hydroponic conditions. The mean antioxidant activity of the four cultivars, as measured with the ABTS radical decolourization assay, ranged from 2329 to 3268 µmole TEAC/100 g dry matter (DM) in the hydrophilic extracts and from 178 to 303 µmole TEAC/100 g DM in the lipophilic extracts. The major antioxidant components per 100 g DM were phenolics (343–451 mg gallic acid equivalents in hydrophilic extract and 53–74 mg gallic acid equivalents in lipophilic extract), flavonoids (175–204 mg rutin equivalents), ascorbic acid (153–195 mg) and lycopene (33–54 mg). Ascorbic acid and flavonoids were found to contribute 28–38% and 29–34%, respectively, to the antioxidant activity of the hydrophilic extract of tomatoes. The results showed that the smallest cultivar (Campari) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher antioxidant activities, total phenolics and flavonoids than the larger sized cultivars (Excell, Tradiro and Flavourine). This could be attributed to the significantly (P < 0.05) higher surface area/volume ratio of the small cultivar (0.15) when compared with the large-sized cultivars (0.10–0.12). The tomato cultivar (Flavourine) with a brighter red colour (higher a*/b* value), had a higher lycopene content as well, which suggests that the a*/b* value of tomatoes can be used as an indicator of their lycopene content. The phenolics (r=0.84**) and flavonoids (r=0.88**) were significantly related to the antioxidant activity of the hydrophilic extract, which suggests that measurement of total phenolics or flavonoids can be used as indicators of the antioxidant activity of tomatoes.