Tomato fruits contain several anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, provitaminic A carotenes, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Consumption of its components, b-carotene and lycopene, has been related epidemiologically to a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and of prostate, gastrointestinal and epi- thelial cell cancer (Rao & Rao, 2007).