Previous work from our group investigated the phytochemical
profile and antioxidant activities of the crude extracts of V118
(Li et al., 2011). The current work seeks to evaluate the cellular
antioxidant activities of the lipophilic (containing mainly carotenoids)
and hydrophilic extracts (containing mainly phenolics)
and their mixture of V118, and the bioaccessibility of these phytochemicals
using an in vitro digestion model. The anti-inflammatory
effects of the whole red and purple tomatoes (mixture of the
lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts) were assessed using a carrageenan-
induced paw oedema rat model. The biochemical changes
(malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione peroxidase
(GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) in the oedematous
paws were assessed to evaluate the degree of tissue oxidative
stress and to help improve our understanding of the potential
health effects of this unique purple tomato.