Abstract: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized primarily by social deficits,and its development is closely associated with central nervous system inflammation,gut-brain axis dysregulation,and oxidative stress.Lycopene,a lipid-soluble carotenoid capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier,possesses dual biological activities—anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.Animal studies have demonstrated that lycopene can inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation,downregulate the expression of multiple inflammatory factors such as IL-1β,IL-8,NF-κB,IL-18,and TNF-α,reduce inflammatory damage,and thereby alleviate social deficits and repetitive behaviors.Furthermore,lycopene has shown promising neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy.However,current research remains limited to animal models,often using highly purified,high-dose formulations of lycopene.The therapeutic effects observed under these conditions cannot be directly equated to those achievable through regular dietary intake,and interspecies differences must also be considered.Nevertheless,incorporating lycopene into a balanced diet may still offer potential protective benefits for brain health.Future research should focus on mechanistic studies using organoids and human cells,as well as rigorous clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of lycopene in ASD patients,ultimately identifying optimal intervention strategies.

Key words: lycopene, autism spectrum disorder, social deficits