What toxic alkaloid is present in higher concentrations in unripe or green tomatoes?
Answer
Tomatine
When tomatoes have not fully ripened, they contain a higher concentration of the alkaloid known as tomatine. While ripe, red tomatoes have significantly lower levels, excessive consumption of the unripe, green fruit could potentially introduce enough tomatine to cause issues. Although significant harm is generally unlikely unless a very large quantity of unripe fruit is ingested, sticking to ripe tomatoes ensures that the consumer maximizes the beneficial nutrients like lycopene while minimizing exposure to this potentially problematic compound.
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