A Rapid and Cheap Method for Extracting and Quantifying Lycopene Content in Tomato Sauces: Effects of Lycopene Micellar Delivery on Human Osteoblast-Like Cells
Rosario Mare,
Samantha Maurotti,
Yvelise Ferro,
Angelo Galluccio,
Franco Arturi,
Stefano Romeo,
Antonio Procopio,
Vincenzo Musolino,
Vincenzo Mollace,
Tiziana Montalcini,
Arturo Pujia
Affiliations
Rosario Mare
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Samantha Maurotti
Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Yvelise Ferro
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Angelo Galluccio
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Franco Arturi
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Stefano Romeo
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Antonio Procopio
Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Vincenzo Musolino
IRC-FSH—Pharmaceutical Biology—Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Vincenzo Mollace
IRC-FSH Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Tiziana Montalcini
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Arturo Pujia
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Identifying and quantifying the beneficial molecules contained in nutraceuticals is essential to predict the effects derived from their consumption. This study explores a cheap and rapid method for quantifying lycopene content from a semi-solid matrix. In addition, it compares the in vitro effects of the extracts obtained from different tomato sauces available on the local market with Osteocol®, a patented tomato sauce from southern Italy. We performed a liquid extraction of lycopene using suitable solvents. The lycopene extracted was encapsulated in surfactant micelles and finally tested in vitro on Saos-2 cells. The effects exerted by lycopene on ALP and Wnt/β-catenin pathways were investigated by Western blotting. Hexane was found to be the best solvent for lycopene extraction. Spectrophotometrical and HPLC analyses showed similar trends. Osteocol® contained 39 ± 4 mg lycopene per 100 g of sauce, while the best commercial product contained 19 ± 1 mg/100 g. The Osteocol® lycopene extract increased ALP and β-catenin protein expressions in a dose-dependent manner, also showing statistically significant results (p ® represents a useful supplement in the prevention of osteoporosis compared to its commercial competitors.
