Botanic name: Lycopersicum esculentum Mill., Solanum lycopersicum - fam. Solanacee
Synonymous:
Tomato, Love apple Other names: it. - Pesca dei lupi, Pomodoro ; fr. - Tomate, Pomme d'amour; germ. - Tomate, Liebesapfel; 
sp. - Jitomate, Tomate
Used parts: external part of fruit mesocarp -Balsamic time: whole maturation.

Old plant from which the modern tomato cultivations have been bred, Lycopersicum esculentum, that comes from the temperate zone of Central-South America, from Perů to Mexic, has been imported in Europe by Spanish in the XVI century. The ripe fruit is rich in vitamines (A and C in particular), carotenoids ( of which the main representant is lycopene) minerals and trace elements.

Antioxidant properties of carotenoids are well known from time immemorial. Recently science focuses its attention on lycopene a carotenoid extracted from tomato mesocarp, that shows itself to be capable of protecting cells from aging and degenerative damage caused by free radicals in a more effective way then commons carotenes. Lycopene, unlikely other carotenoids, is not a provitamine A, but shows an antioxidant and repairing capability, in particular in case of degeneration of prostatis, of uterus and gastroenteric system. Moreover the antioxidant effect of lycopene is useful in the prevention of cardiovascular damage. Indeed, it limits the transformation of LDL cholesterol in its oxidate form, responsible for the growth of atherosclerotic plates. Noteworthy it's its capability of protecting epithelial cells in case of prolonged exposition to sun rays and U.V.

Mustich G.: "Dal pomodoro, una prigione per i radicali liberi", Erboristeria Domani, n° 6, 1998
Giovannucci E. et al.: Iournal of the National Cancer Institute, 1995, 87: 1767-76
Levy J, Bosin E, Feldman B. et al.: Nutr. Canc., 1995, 24: 257-266
Ribaya-Mercado J.D., Garmyn M., Gilchrest B.A. et al.: Journal of Nutrition,
 1995, 125:1854-1859