Studying the effect of lycopene on serum concentrations of leptin, cholecystokinin, neuropeptide Y, and body weight changes in adult female rats

Lycopene is a lipophilic carotenoid found in high quantities in tomatoes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lycopene on serum concentrations of leptin, cholecystokinin, neuropeptide Y, and body weight changes in adult female rats.

In this experimental study, 32 adult female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 including control, Sham, and two experimental groups receiving lycopene (at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg / kg). Lycopene was administered to the animals by gavage. Twenty-nine days after the start of the experiment and after weighing the animals, blood samples were taken from heart and serum concentrations of cholecystokinin, leptin, and neuropeptide Y were measured. Results were analyzed using ANOVA statistical test and Duncan's test at significance level of p≤0.05.

Lycopene at concentration of 10 mg/kg significantly increased leptin and cholecystokinin while  significantly reduced neuropeptide Y, and decreased average body weight compared to the control group (P).