Promising hepatoprotective effects of lycopene in different liver diseases

The incidence of liver diseases such as hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer is one of the world’s most significant health challenges. Liver diseases can be caused by a variety of circumstances, including viral infection, exposure to xenobiotics, environmental pollutants, metabolic disorders, and others. Lycopene (LYC) is a potent antioxidant of the carotenoid family in red fruits and vegetables. LYC has been found to have multiple biological activities, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects. Notably, LYC has promised hepatoprotective properties against various liver diseases, including alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, hepatocellular carcinoma, fulminant hepatic failure, and radiation-induced liver damage. It also protects against drug-induced liver injury caused by tramadol, cisplatin, methotrexate, oestrogen, sulfamethoxazole, and others. Moreover, promising hepatoprotective effects of LYC in environmental toxins such as Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, atrazine, aflatoxins, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, bisphenol A, dichlorvos as well as heavy metals. Our review aims to discuss LYC’s hepatoprotective properties and explore the mechanisms behind this effect. It highlights several research directions for further investigating the potential benefits of LYC consumption in treating human liver diseases.