Possible Interaction: Lycopene and Garlic

“We conclude that lycopene acts synergistically, as an effective antioxidant against LDL oxidation, with several natural antioxidants such as vitamin E, the flavonoid glabridin, the phenolics rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, and garlic.”

“When lycopene (5 micromol/liter) was added to LDL in combination with glabridin, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, or garlic , synergistic antioxidative effects were obtained against LDL oxidation induced either by copper ions or by the radical generator AAPH.”

“Apart from a few exceptions, when olive oil was used as a reaction medium, the combined use of garlic , cabbage, broccoli, shiitake mushroom, and makonbu improved the total Z-isomer ratio of lycopene after heating compared to the separate use of the tested ingredients.”

“For example, … of garlic … lycopene from tomatoes in combination form suppressed the development of chemically induced gastric cancer by modulation of apoptosis-associated proteins (reduced Bcl-2/… and up-regulation of Bim and caspases 8 and 3) at considerably lower intakes than when these substances were given in isolation.”