Antioxidant Properties and Health Benefits of Tomato

Tomato, has long been appreciated for its organoleptic and culinary properties, in recent times, it has been valued for its nutritional, dietetic and health traits. From several recent medical researches, the key-role of tomato fruit has emerged as a supplier of antioxidant compounds essential in human metabolism for people in western countries. Starting from the economic significance of the tomato, in this review its health benefits are underlined especially those referred to antioxidant properties. The most important compounds (ascorbic acid, carotenoids, tocopherols, gluthatione, polyphenols, and tomatines) involved in the secondary metabolism of the tomato are described here. In addition, the Authors highlight the possible management of the agronomic factors that aim to increase levels of antioxidants in the tomato .