Synergistic compositions and methods

A pharmaceutical composition for oral administration comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a combination of lycopene and at least one phytosterol wherein the ratio of said lycopene to said phytosterol in said pharmaceutical composition is a maximum of about 5:1 and said combination produces a synergistic inhibition of prostate cell growth.

A pharmaceutical composition for oral administration comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a tomato oleoresin including lycopene in an amount of from about 6 to 15 wt. %, phytoene and phytofluene in an amount of from about 1.0 to 5.0 wt. %, tocopherols in an amount of from about 1.5 to 4.0 wt. %, beta-carotene in an amount of from about 0.2 to 1.0 wt. %, fatty acids in an amount of from about 50 to 90 wt. %, and at least one phytosterol in an amount such that the ratio of said lycopene to said at least one phytosterol is less than about 5.1.

A method of producing a pharmaceutical composition for oral administration comprising preparing a tomato oleoresin including lycopene in an amount of from about 6 to 15 wt. %, phospholipids in an amount of at least about 0.01 wt. %, a mixture of mono- and di-glycerides in an amount of from about 2 to 6 wt. % and at least one phytosterol in an amount of from about 1 to 1.5 wt. %, wherein the ratio of said lycopene to said at least one phytosterol is at least about 5.5:1, and adding a sufficient additional amount of said at least one phytosterol so as to lower the ratio of said lycopene to said at least one phytosterol to less than about 5:1, so as to provide a synergistic inhibition of prostate cell growth.