Tomato is tasty, versatile and healthful food stuff extensively used for numerous therapeutic processes. It is loaded with several nutrients like Vitamin A, E, C, B complex, sodium, potassium, fibre, carbohydrates, proteins and unsaturated fatty acids.

 Phytochemical components of tomatoes and their health benefits

The below table will show an overview of phytochemicals found in tomato and their role in human body –

• Vitamin A, C and E component of tomatoes are accountable for boosting up the immunity level of the body
• It has seen that consumption of tomato is very effective for strengthening the immune system as well as helps to increase the resistant power of the body that helps to fight against infections

• Consumption of tomato is very effective for improving vision
• Tomato is considered as a good source of Vitamin A as well as beta carotene, which plays significant role in enhancing eye health and helps to keep the retina healthy and promotes retinal function
• Consumption of tomato is extremely helpful for reducing the prevalence of various eye disorders like keratomalacia, xerophthalmia, conjunctivitis, bitot spot, macular degeneration, cataract, night blindness etc as it provides desirable amount of Vitamin A

• Tomato plays significant role for promoting color vision as well as low light vision                                          

• Consuming tomato is very effective for improving digestion and absorption of food
• It helps to improve regularity as it contributes considerable amount of fibre, which helps to facilitate defecation by making the stool soft and bulky
• Its fibre content also helps to reduce the prevalence of diverticular disease  
• It helps to improve colonic health as well and also promotes peristalsis
• Consumption of tomato is extremely useful for improving the symptoms of hemorrhoid
• It also helps to promote hepatic health and functionality

• Vitamin C content of tomato helps to improve skin elasticity as it is associated with synthesizing collagen
• Vitamin A component of tomato is closely related with preventing ageing
• It helps to protect the skin from oxidative damages

• It acts as an effective cleanser. It is better to use the skin of the tomato (after peeling) as a mask on face, which helps to clean the skin and helps to refresh the skin as well

• Vitamin A, C, E and B complex of tomato are considered as the principal components responsible for stimulating hair growth
• It also helps to reduce hair fall
• It has seen that consumption of tomato is very useful for improving the strength and shine of hair
• It helps to reduce dandruff as well

• Tomato is an important source of calcium and Vitamin K, both of which play important role in improving bone health
• It helps to increase the strength and mass of the bone
• It also helps to enhance bone mineral density and reduces the prevalence of bone fractures and bone looses
• The lycopene component of tomato also helps to decrease the prevalence of osteoporosis

• Beta carotene component of tomato plays chief role for protecting the nerve cell from oxidative damages hence improves brain health and functionality
• Consumption of tomato is associated with improving cognitive ability as well as memory

• It is very effective for preventing Alzheimer’s disease

Role on muscular system

• It contains significant amount of potassium, which is essentially required by the body for promoting the functions of muscles as well as nerves
• It helps to facilitate neuromuscular transaction

Role on respiratory health

• It helps to protect the lungs from inflammatory damages and promotes lungs functionality
• Lycopene component of tomato helps to protect the lungs from oxidative damages also and makes the breathing easy by promoting respiration
• It is very useful for preventing asthma as well, especially exercise induces asthma

 Role on weight management

• It is better to include tomato in the diet of obese individual as it helps in weight reduction
• Tomato helps to synthesize carnitine (an amino acid required for beta oxidation of fatty acid), which helps to increase the rate of fat catabolism (breakdown of fat) that facilitates weight reduction

Therapeutic applications

Cardio protective effects

• It acts as an important therapeutic agent for promoting cardiac health
• Its lycopene content helps to prevent lipid peroxidation hence it helps to reduce the risk of blood vessels blockage

• It also helps to reduce the concentration of LDL within body hence reduces the prevalence of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease

Chromium content of tomato helps to maintain the blood sugar level in normal range

Chlorogenic acid and coumaric acid of tomatoes help to guard the body from the unfavorable effects of smoking. It also helps to protect the health of passive smokers from the harmful consequences of cigarette smoke

Consumption of tomato is very beneficial for reducing the risk of developing kidney stones as well

Tomatoes in cooking

• It is extensively used for preparing curries or gravies or sauces or soups or savory dishes
• It can also be roasted or stewed or fried or boiled during cooking
• It can be consumed raw as well with salads

Chaudhary, P., Sharma, A., Singh, B. and Nagpal, A.K., 2018. Bioactivities of phytochemicals present in tomato. Journal of food science and technology, 55(8), pp.2833-2849.

Cheng, H.M., Koutsidis, G., Lodge, J.K., Ashor, A., Siervo, M. and Lara, J., 2017. Tomato and lycopene supplementation and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Atherosclerosis, 257, pp.100-108.Pinela, J., Oliveira, M.B.P.P. and Ferreira, I.C.F.R., 2016. Bioactive compounds of tomatoes as health promoters. Natural Bioactive Compounds from Fruits and Vegetables, 2, pp.48-91.

Li, N., Wu, X., Zhuang, W., Xia, L., Chen, Y., Wu, C., Rao, Z., Du, L., Zhao, R., Yi, M. and Wan, Q., 2020. Tomato and lycopene and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review. Food Chemistry, p.128396.

Martí, R., Valcárcel, M., Roselló, S. and Cebolla-Cornejo, J., 2019. Functional and Health-promoting Properties of Tomatoes: It's Not Just Lycopene. In Tomato Chemistry, Industrial Processing and Product Development (pp. 285-303).

Przybylska, S., 2020. Lycopene–a bioactive carotenoid offering multiple health benefits: a review. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 55(1), pp.11-32.

Salehi, B., Sharifi-Rad, R., Sharopov, F., Namiesnik, J., Roointan, A., Kamle, M., Kumar, P., Martins, N. and Sharifi-Rad, J., 2019. Beneficial effects and potential risks of tomato consumption for human health: An overview. Nutrition, 62, pp.201-208.

Thies, F., Mills, L.M., Moir, S. and Masson, L.F., 2017. Cardiovascular benefits of lycopene: fantasy or reality?. Proceedings of the nutrition society, 76(2), pp.122-129.