Is lycopene (i.e. the red pigment found in tomatoes) acidic or basic?

Question

exact figure if possible, but any answer will do

thanks

Answer 1

Lycopene is an unsaturated acyclic hydrocarbon.

Structure formula see:

Chemical characterization Page 2(6):

ftp://ftp.fao.org/ag/agn/jecfa/cta_lycop...

It is neither acidic nor basic:

Lycopene is a red crystalline powder, insoluble in water and nearly insoluble in methanol and ethanol, but is freely soluble in chloroform and tetrahydrofuran. Lycopene is sparingly soluble in ether, hexane, and vegetable oils.

Description: Page 1(6) of same publication.

Some more details:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycopene

Answer 2

Lycopene is actually an acid-base indicator. it is neutral,around 7. It is red in acid and purple in base. It is an antioxidant, searching for free oxygens,  which can harm cells.and neutralizing them.