Comparative antioxidant effects of lycopene, apo-10′-lycopenoic acid and apo-14′-lycopenoic acid in human macrophages exposed to H2O2 and cigarette smoke extract

► Apo-10′-lycopenoic acid and apo-14′-lycopenoic acid acted as potent antioxidants in a cell model. ► They affected intracellular ROS production, oxidative damage and cell signaling in human macrophages. ► Apo-14′-lycopenoic acid was a better antioxidant than apo-10′-lycopenoic acid. ► Their antioxidant functions may mediate some of the antioxidant functions of lycopene in cells.