Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Morgan Cichon Dissertation_Final.pdf (3.32 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Investigating the Role of Tomato Phytochemicals through Targeted and Untargeted Metabolomics

Cichon, Morgan Julienne
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9379-0264
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1449226913

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Food Science and Technology.
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a link between an increased consumption of tomatoes and a decreased risk of chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. As the carotenoid lycopene is the predominant pigment in tomatoes and is an efficient singlet oxygen quencher, many have focused on lycopene as the main bioactive compound in tomatoes responsible for these observed health benefits. However, tomatoes contain many potential bioactive components and research has also suggested that some of the protective effects of tomatoes might be due to the combination of phytochemicals and their metabolites. Determining the biochemical changes tomato phytochemicals undergo and elicit in vivo is important for understanding the biological function of this fruit. The objective of this dissertation work was to utilize both targeted and untargeted metabolomics to investigate lycopene and other tomato phytochemicals in foods, preclinical models, and humans. One of the benefits of metabolomics is that it allows for continuity that is necessary in the area of functional food research. This technique can be applied first to chemically profile foods and then to profile biological samples collected from dietary interventions with those foods. The primary objective was accomplished through the metabolomic investigation of 1) lycopene oxidative metabolism in humans using 13C-labeled lycopene, 2) phytochemical differences between red and tangerine tomato juices intended for human clinical trials, and 3) the impact of lycopene and tomatoes on the plasma metabolome of mice. From this research, lycopene cis isomers and lycopene 1,2-epoxide were identified in plasma by mass spectrometry as potential oxidative metabolites, while nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolomics experiments have suggested the presence of small, polar catabolites of lycopene in the urine. Red and tangerine tomato juices intended for use as functional foods in human clinical interventions with prostate cancer patients were found to differ significantly in a number of phytochemicals and metabolites. Many of these compounds have been shown to possess important antioxidant and biological activities and may contribute to the health promoting properties of tomato products in the diet. In mice, several tomato alkaloids were found to increase in plasma after the consumption of tomatoes. Results of this study also revealed that the red tomato fed mice had a unique metabolic profile compared to mice fed either tangerine tomatoes or low carotenoid tomatoes, suggesting differences in biological effect based on variety. This work demonstrates the utility of metabolomics in food science and nutrition research and supports continued investigation of the synergistic effects of tomato bioactive phytochemicals.
Steven Schwartz, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Steven Clinton, M.D., Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Earl Harrison, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Luis Rodriguez-Saona, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
203 p.
Analytical Chemistry; Food Science; Nutrition
metabolomics; tomato; phytochemicals; metabolites; lycopene; mass spectrometry

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cichon, M. J. (2015). Investigating the Role of Tomato Phytochemicals through Targeted and Untargeted Metabolomics [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1449226913

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cichon, Morgan. Investigating the Role of Tomato Phytochemicals through Targeted and Untargeted Metabolomics. 2015. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1449226913.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cichon, Morgan. "Investigating the Role of Tomato Phytochemicals through Targeted and Untargeted Metabolomics." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1449226913

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1449226913
4,156
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.