Carotenoids in watermelon juice

Watermelon is the third most popular fruit vegetable in the world and also the largest among the fruits eaten in hot weather. Watermelon juice has gained attention as a functional beverage for exercise, since it contains electrolytes and a significant amount of the amino acid citrulline, which has been found to have ergogenic or athletic performance enhancing.

Watermelon juice contains lycopene and β-carotene - these are plant compounds classified as carotenoids, which are highly colored pigments that help protect plants against damage from sunlight. These antioxidants neutralize the harmful free radicals in the human body.

Carotenoids are responsible for the different flesh colors in watermelon fruit, such as white, salmon yellow, orange, pale yellow, canary yellow, crimson red, and scarlet red.

The predominant carotenoid in yellow-fleshed watermelon is neoxanthin. Neoxanthin is a carotenoid and intermediate in the synthesis of abscisic acid from violaxanthin. Neoxanthin is also found in apple and a constituent of paprika, lucerne, orange, and other species and has been shown to exhibit apoptotic and anti-proliferative functions.

Watermelon has long been identified as a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that studies have suggested could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Carotenoids in watermelon juice

Lycopene in watermelon juice

It’s not difficult to prepare watermelon juice. Just scoop watermelon and put into a high-speed blender and blend for 20 seconds. Then serve.

Study shows that watermelons has numerous health benefits. The red variety of watermelon contains high concentrations of Lycopene, an anti-oxidant that helps to reduce the risk of many diseases.

Majority of the watermelon is being sold on the basis of sweetness but presently, ruby color imparted by lycopene is also a convincing factor.

Lycopene, a red-pigmented carotenoid with antioxidant activity has been associated with a lowered risk of prostate, digestive tract, bladder, breast and cervical cancers, as well as with cardiovascular disease.

The lycopene activity in the body depends on its molecular and physicochemical properties and site of action within cells. It acts as singlet oxygen and free radical quencher.

It has been observed that consumption of 20 mg/day of lycopene from fresh frozen watermelon juice, resulted in a 100 to 200% increase in human plasma lycopene, thus showing that lycopene is bioavailable from non-heat processed watermelon.
Lycopene in watermelon juice