Tomato-Derived Lycopene Emulgel Shows Sunscreen-Level UV Protection in Lab Tests

A tomato pigment that most of us swallow without a second thought has just been re-engineered into a topical cream with a laboratory-measured sun protection factor of 38.8, a figure that places it in the same performance bracket as commercial SPF 50+ sunscreens. The finding, published in the journal Plant Biosystems by a team of Algerian and Portuguese researchers, suggests that the red carotenoid lycopene, extracted and purified from Solanum lycopersicum, could become the backbone of a new generation of natural photoprotective skincare products that simultaneously fight oxidative stress and skin pathogens.

The study, led by Sarah Boukhalkhal of Amar Telidji University in Laghouat, Algeria, set out with three interlocking goals: to isolate and chemically characterize lycopene from tomato, to quantify its antioxidant and antimicrobial potency in vitro, and to embed the purified pigment into a stable emulgel formulation suitable for topical application. Each stage of the work built on the previous one, moving from bench chemistry to formulation science in a single pipeline, and the results collectively argue that lycopene deserves a place among the serious candidates for plant-based sun protection.

Purification and identification came first. The researchers used thin-layer chromatography to separate the pigment from the crude tomato extract, then confirmed its identity with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. These techniques revealed the characteristic spectral fingerprint of polyene carotenoids, the long conjugated double-bond chains that give lycopene its deep red color and, crucially, its ability to absorb light and neutralize reactive molecules. The conjugated polyene system is the molecular secret behind everything that followed: it allows the molecule to quench singlet oxygen and free radicals with remarkable efficiency, a property that has long made lycopene one of the most studied carotenoids in biomedical literature.

The antioxidant performance of the purified compound was striking. In the DPPH free-radical scavenging assay, the purified lycopene achieved an IC50 value of 3.2 micrograms per milliliter, meaning that a very small concentration was enough to neutralize half of the free radicals in the test system. Lower IC50 values indicate stronger antioxidant activity, and this figure compared favorably with reference antioxidant compounds. The team also measured the pigment’s reducing power, which reflects its capacity to donate electrons and thereby terminate radical chain reactions, and found it superior to the reference compounds used for comparison. In a third test, the beta-carotene and linoleic acid bleaching system, which models the protection of lipids against peroxidation, the lycopene again demonstrated a strong protective effect. Together, these three complementary assays paint a consistent picture of a molecule that intercepts oxidative damage through multiple chemical mechanisms rather than a single pathway.

The antimicrobial results may prove equally consequential. Lycopene showed significant activity against a panel of skin-relevant pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Micrococcus luteus, as well as the yeast Candida albicans and several Gram-negative bacteria responsible for skin and soft-tissue infections. The activity against MRSA is particularly noteworthy given the global crisis of antibiotic resistance and the urgent need for topical agents that can help manage colonized or infected skin without contributing further to resistance. Previous studies have suggested that lycopene disrupts microbial cytoplasmic membranes and can trigger reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction in Candida albicans, and the new findings align with that mechanistic picture, although the authors of the current study did not set out to resolve the mechanism themselves.

With the purified pigment validated on two fronts, the team turned to formulation. An emulgel, a hybrid dosage form that combines the hydration and spreadability of an emulsion with the cooling, non-greasy feel of a gel, was chosen as the vehicle. The researchers prepared several formulations containing different amounts of lycopene and subjected each to physical stability testing, pH measurement, viscosity analysis, and homogeneity assessment. The standout was a formulation designated F1, containing 0.01 grams of lycopene, which remained physically stable and displayed an appropriate pH and viscosity for skin application, along with a homogeneous consistency. These parameters matter enormously in practice: a sunscreen that separates in the tube, irritates the skin because of an unbalanced pH, or feels unpleasant to apply will fail commercially no matter how active its ingredients are.

The photoprotection data were the headline result. Using an in vitro spectrophotometric method, the team calculated the sun protection factor of the F1 emulgel and obtained a value of 38.8, which the authors describe as comparable to commercial SPF 50+ sunscreens. The in vitro SPF determination works by measuring the absorbance of the formulation across the ultraviolet spectrum and applying a mathematical weighting that accounts for the solar irradiance spectrum and the erythemal action spectrum of human skin. While in vitro values do not automatically translate to in vivo performance on human volunteers, a result of this magnitude from a single natural pigment, without synthetic UV filters, is remarkable and points to the strong intrinsic UV-absorbing capacity of lycopene’s conjugated double-bond system.

The broader scientific context strengthens the case. Lycopene has long been recognized as one of the most efficient biological singlet oxygen quenchers known, a distinction established in landmark work from the late 1980s. Epidemiological and dietary studies have associated lycopene-rich tomato products with reduced sensitivity to ultraviolet-induced erythema, and cell culture experiments have shown that lycopene protects human skin fibroblasts from UVA damage. What the new study adds is the formulation step: converting a well-documented biological antioxidant into a physically stable, topically applicable product whose photoprotective performance can be quantified against commercial benchmarks. Earlier attempts at lycopene emulgels and microemulsions have explored similar territory, but the combination of purified compound, rigorous chemical characterization, antimicrobial screening against resistant strains, and high SPF measurement in a single study is unusual.

The implications reach beyond sunscreens. A single plant-derived ingredient that offers antioxidant defense, antimicrobial action against both resistant bacteria and fungi, and measurable UV protection addresses several cosmetic and dermatological needs at once. This multifunctionality could simplify product formulations, reduce reliance on synthetic preservatives and chemical UV filters, and appeal to the fast-growing market for natural and sustainable skincare. The researchers caution, appropriately, that further research and applications are needed before such a product reaches consumers. Clinical trials on human skin, long-term stability studies under real-world storage conditions, photostability testing to confirm that the lycopene itself does not degrade under sunlight, and safety and irritation assessments would all be required by regulators before any SPF claim could appear on a label.

Nevertheless, the study is a compelling proof of concept that the humble tomato contains a molecule capable of doing serious work on human skin. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Fundamental Sciences of Amar Telidji University and in collaboration with the LAQV-REQUIMTE research unit at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, and it received no external funding. As the cosmetics industry searches for credible plant-based alternatives to synthetic UV filters, and as dermatologists look for new topical tools against resistant skin pathogens, lycopene has now demonstrated in a single, carefully controlled study that it can plausibly serve both masters. The next chapter, moving from the spectrophotometer to human skin, will determine whether the tomato’s red pigment can graduate from promising laboratory candidate to genuine ingredient on the sunscreen shelf.

Subject of Research: Lycopene-based emulgel formulation from tomato with antioxidant, antimicrobial and photoprotective properties

Article Title: Antioxidant, antimicrobial and photoprotective activities of a lycopene-based emulgel from Solanum lycopersicum

Article References: Boukhalkhal, S., Elhouiti, F., Zegrir, A., Saidat, B., Pinto, D. C. G. A., Silva, A. M. S., Válega, M. S. G. A., Dakmoussi, B. I., Derreche, Y., & Yousfi, M. (2026). Antioxidant, antimicrobial and photoprotective activities of a lycopene-based emulgel from Solanum lycopersicum. Plant Biosystems, 160(4), Article 222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44473-026-00226-1

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s44473-026-00226-1

Keywords: lycopene, tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, emulgel, sun protection factor, photoprotection, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, MRSA, Candida albicans, carotenoids, natural skincare